Kacey Musgraves Is My Spirit Animal

Kacey Musgraves is one of my favorite country musicians. I not only love her music, I also love how she presents herself as a person. She is unapologetically herself and I admire that. She is beautiful and has as sense of style that is all her own. She likes to give old school country fashion a modern twist which is something she does with her music as well. Kacey is not one to be put in a box or be told how she should do something. She is a strong woman that believes in herself and is living her purpose. Her fans adore her and she treats them with kindness and compassion. Kacey is just all around amazing.
Kacey recently announced that her new album Pageant Material will be released June 23rd. What's interesting about the album is that the musicians set up and tracked everything in the same room together. This will give the music a more classic sound. I think this is great because the songs that Kacey writes and performs to tend to have a classic tone to them. Many of the lyrics have more modern content but are conveyed in an old school way. A lot of the recent country music being produced can be more closely compared to pop and hip hop music than in previous decades. New artists often bring in elements of other music styles and are creating songs that appeal to a wider fan base. What I like about Kacey is that she is essentially doing the opposite. She is staying true to herself and the current atmosphere but she is using classic country elements within her music. She is breathing life into country music and staying true to its roots. I think there are many people that listen to country music today that aren't aware of how it used to be. They have never heard of Loretta Lynn or Buck Owens. But I think Kacey is giving the newer generations a taste of classic country music but with a modern twist.
Recently Kacey released a new song called Biscuits. It instantly became my new favorite song. I really love the message of the song. One of the main lines of the song is "Mind your own biscuits and life will be gravy" which I think sums up the song pretty well. So often people are quick to judge others. With the invention of the Internet and social media people now have a way to post their opinions or leave a comment without worrying about the consequences. Its gotten to the point where people think that putting down others or saying a negative comment is a normal and acceptable thing. I think the world needs less negativity and more love. I think love and compassion is 10 times more powerful than a negative comment. I think its time to bring back the phrase "If you don't have something nice to say then don't say anything at all." It reminds me of another quote that I think is beautiful " Before you speak ask yourself: Is it true? Is it kind? Is it necessary?" I think many of us speak without thinking. We live in such a fast paced society and we feel the need to get things out there so quickly. I think we could benefit from slowing down and allowing there to be silence. 
I think Kacey Musgraves is a unique, intelligent, talented, beautiful, and inspirational woman. I'm thankful for contributions to the music industry. She is not only a talented performer but an amazing song writer as well. I look forward to hearing new music from her. 

Sam Hunt

Ok so lets talk Sam Hunt. I've gotta say I am addicted. His album Montevallo has been on repeat for the last few weeks. I am in love with every song on the album and that is a rare occurrence for me. Even with artists or bands that I have loved for years there is usually at least one song on the album I do not like. You cannot please everyone. But with this album I am very pleased. Sam Hunt is an amazing singer and song writer. Yes, you read that correctly, not only does he sing all the songs on the album but he wrote them as well.
So back to the album. Sam Hunt has a unique style. Some of his songs like Take Your Time and Break Up in a Small Town have this speaking/singing thing going on. It gives the song a more story telling vibe. It puts you in his point of view and allows you to view the song through that lens. It is very cool. Most of the album is very upbeat. I have spent many a morning dancing around my kitchen to these songs. There are two songs on the album that have a slower tempo. They are Make You Miss Me and Speakers. These songs tell two different stories. Make You Miss Me is about the ending of a relationship. I find it interesting because it gives the point of view of a man being left by a woman that is always moving on to the next thing. I feel that women can relate to this song because women often experience this treatment from men. It's nice to understand the experience from a man's perspective. Speakers is a personal favorite of mine. This song is pure seduction. One of the reasons I love this album so much is because most of the songs on it are about relationships. With the exception of Raised on it, every song focuses on some aspect of a relationship or dating.
I have not had the opportunity to see Sam Hunt perform live but hopefully that will change in the coming months. He is going on tour with Hunter Hayes and Lady Antebellum. I have seen a few videos and I think he will be amazing to see live. He seems to be very energetic and good at engaging the crowd. I look forward to experiencing it for myself.

Rixton at the El Rey Theatre

I had the fortune of seeing Rixton perform at the El Rey Theatre in Los Angeles on August 23, 2014 and August 24, 2014.  The first night was much more mellow for me personally. I arrived at the venue about an hour before the doors were set to open. There was already a line around the corner. While waiting for the doors to open I had the pleasure of talking to two women in front of me and their 11 year old daughters. I really enjoy meeting people at concerts and hearing what they like about the band. They had just recently been introduced to Rixton's music and were excited for the show. This was my first time seeing Rixton perform live and I was pretty excited too! I even made this fun little sign for the wait on Rixton contest they were doing for the tour.
After entering the venue I decided to just hang out on the side. I would leave all the front row action for the next night. The show started off with a duo called Michael and Marisa. They have a music style similar to that of Rixton. I thought they were really good. The songs had fun lyrics and melodies. I think the duo had a very good energy about them but I think that their stage presence could be a little more outgoing. I think this will come with time and becoming more comfortable on stage. Each performer has their own style when it comes to presenting themselves on stage.
The next performer was T. Mills. I knew that he was going to be performing but I wasn't that familiar with his music. I had seen the music video for All I Wanna Do but I hadn't heard any of his other songs. I will admit that I was a bit surprised when he started rapping. I had not anticipated the story lines of his other songs. As a 27-year-old woman I was able to enjoy the show. He is a very high energy performer and he is exceptional at engaging the crowd. His songs have a good beat and they get you going. I became a fan after this performance and downloaded some of his songs. However I felt concerned for some of the younger fans in the audience, like the 11-year-old girls I had met earlier. This is not a critique of T. Mills, he has his own style and own fan base. I just think that there could have been some better planning for the show. It was an all ages show. Some people were not aware that T. Mills was going to be there and had they known they could have made different arrangements. Rixton has a different style of music and they do attract a younger fan base than T. Mills. I think this should have been taken into consideration for the tour. But people do have a responsibility to be aware of the shows they go to. I usually know who the opening acts are and try to become familiar with them before I go to a show.

Last but not least was Rixton. Their performance was so amazing! They are so full of life when they perform. I also enjoy how they engage fans through out the whole set. They don't take everything so seriously and they always look like they are having so much fun. The whole audience got a bit of a surprise when they informed us that they would be filming Rixton perform their new single Wait On Me to be used for the music video for the song. It was an amazing experience.

The 2nd night was by far my favorite night. I had VIP tickets and had the pleasure of meeting Rixton before the show. They are such nice guys and I thoroughly enjoyed meeting them. For the meet and greet we got to watch them perform a couple of songs and to ask them questions. The boys even got asked to homecoming by some fans. I had asked them "How would you describe your experience on this tour?" They described it in such words as amazing and original. I even got a lovely picture with the boys.
Since I had VIP tickets I was allowed to enter the venue early. This allowed me to get a spot in the front row. Being so close to the stage was a fun experience. I felt that I was able to take in so much more than I was the previous night. I also got some amazing pictures! Having a front row view also allowed me to see more of how the artist engaged fans during their performance.
I really enjoyed T. Mills set the 2nd night. Being more familiar with his music at this point I was able to enjoy it more. He is an excellent performer! He really knows how to bring his music alive for fans. It was nice to see his fans singing along with every line and to see both T. Mills and his fans light up because of this. I think my initial opinion of T. Mills was a bit harsh. But the more I learned the more my opinion began to soften. He seems like a pretty cool guy.
Rixton were phenomenal the 2nd night. They want you to have fun at their shows and do their best to make sure that happens. I love watching them speak to one another in between songs, they are hilarious. Also watching them perform live made me appreciate how each one is so talented with their instruments. I tend to be more of a drums and guitar girl but Danny really blew me away with his skills on the keyboard. You can tell that he works hard and genuinely loves playing the instrument. Charley is amazing at guitar and I loved watching his solos. Lewi is very talented as well. I enjoyed getting to watch him solo a little bit. One of my favorite parts however is when they bring Lewi to the front of the stage and let him have some mic time. Even though he doesn't talk much during the performance he is definitely one of the more vocal members of the group. Whenever I watch interviews he is always very vocal and I love that about him. He is very intelligent and I have not once had trouble understanding his northern accent.

Overall I had an amazing time! I was introduced to some new music and I met some amazing people. This has definitely been the highlight of my year. I look forward to seeing Rixton perform again and I can't wait to hear their album when it comes out later this year. Who knows I may even see T. Mills next time he has a headlining tour. All of the pictures of Rixton featured in this blog are from the 2nd night.

Cavalier Youth

I adore You Me At Six. They are such an amazing band and I feel grateful that I was exposed to them early on in their career. I had the fortune of discovering their music during my time in England in 2007-2008. I have enjoyed all of their albums up to date. When you listen to them all together you can really hear how the band has evolved over the years. When I listen to the album Take Off Your Colours I feel that it is very reminiscent of the time. I am transported back in time to that young girl who was in love with this music. I really connected with what the lyrics were saying and how I saw them reflected in my life. As you move onto Hold Me Down it is a little bit more mature. It's moving away from those late teenage years and into the early 20s. The stories portrayed by the lyrics are a bit different and have a little bit more biting edge to them. The instrumental has evolved a bit and combined with the lyrics it brings the band a step forward. Now with Sinners Never Sleep the band really switched up their sound. They experimented more and even brought in some collaborations with other singers. While this album is really fun to listen to, you can somewhat hear the turmoil and angst in the songs. I think, like with all relationships, bands have ups and downs. I think that during "Sinners Never Sleep" the guys were at a lower point in regards to their relationships with one another. But they came back stronger than ever with Cavalier Youth.
I am obsessed with Cavalier Youth right now. I've been listening to it for months but I had to really sink into the album before posting my review.  It feels like a breath of fresh air. All the songs are full of this amazing energy. I think this may have to do with the recording process. It was nice to get to follow along with the band, via social media, as they made the album. They worked with Neal Avron on this album and he pushed them to new heights. You can really hear it in this album. The band seems to be vibing well with each other and it is reflected in the music. I feel like the band has really came into their own with this album. With Cavalier Youth it feels like the band has learned over the years what works and what doesn't work for them and have come together to create this beautiful masterpiece. I think every album from here on out with be utterly amazing, not that the previous albums were not. Each one is a building block that offers its own personality.
I definitely have some favorite songs on this album. I really enjoy "Fresh Start Fever" because it is so alive. This song pumps you up and makes you feel like you can do anything! I love starting my day with this song. I really liked the video for this song as well, it gives you a new perspective on the lyrics.
The next song that caught my attention was "Win Some, Lose Some". I love it from the first lyrics " If I'm gonna die I'm not gonna die on my knees, if there's bigger plans then someone read them out to me." It makes you think about life and how you are living it. When I am feeling down this song helps to pick me up. The song "Room To Breath" caught my attention with the video. It is very artistic and a beautiful way to portray the song. Also I absolutely love Dan's drum kit, it is stunning. Most recently my favorite song is "Love Me Like You Used To." The lyrics really resonate with me at this point in my life. Not everyone is meant to stay in your life forever.
Thank you for taking the time to read my review of Cavalier Youth. It is an amazing album and I recommend it to everyone. I will be seeing You Me At Six when they tour in the fall. I will also get the opportunity to meet these amazing lads thanks to my VIP ticket. I am really looking forward to it. Please feel free to leave comments, they are always welcome.

Rixton

Rixton is simply amazing. I have loved their music since watching their video for Make Out. The song is highly addictive and not to mention the video is hilarious! I highly recommend watching it. They recently released an EP titled Me and My Broken Heart. This also happens to be the title of their first official single. Me and My Broken Heart is a phenomenal song. I can't stop listening to it! The video is amazing as well, these boys know how to make a music video. 

All the songs on the EP are amazing and rather diverse. Each one is well written and they flow together really well but they each portray a different aspect of the band. Jake can do so many things with his vocals and this is heard throughout the EP. I played some of the songs for a coworker of mine and she couldn't believe that it was the same person singing on each track. He's a bit of a vocal chameleon. 

Not only have I listened to their music I have also watched some interviews that they have done. They are an amazing bunch of lads. Each one has his own unique energy that he brings to the group but they work really well together as a team. They are nice and funny and show a lot of love to their fans. Watching them read fan mail was the cutest thing ever! They have a lot of things going for them right now and I think they will go far in their career. I look forward to a full length album from these guys. I believe one should be coming out later this year. I also suspect that they will have a lot more touring ahead of them. Hopefully they will have some shows near me and I can see them live. They are amazing on video so I can only imagine that they would kill it live. 

Let It Ride Tour

This past Thursday I had the pleasure of seeing Thomas Rhett and Brantley Gilbert on the Let It Ride tour in Stockton, Ca. I had an amazing time. This was one concert that I did not want to miss and being the brave girl that I am I decided to go alone rather than forgo the concert. Let me tell you, it was so worth it. This was my first time at Stockton Arena. It was large and accommodating, especially considering the amount of people that were there. I was lucky enough to be in row 2, I have some amazing pictures and videos to show for it. This seat was a few steps up from my seats at the Florida Georgia Line concert. I have the Brantley Gilbert fan club presale to thank for that.
The show started off with Eric Pasley. He is a newer country artist and he is a song writer like Thomas Rhett and Brantley Gilbert. He is best know for his song Friday Night. He is a talented performer and I enjoyed his set very much. I was surprised that people were not more enthusiastic about his performance. I don't think it'll be too long before we see him on his own headlining tour.
Next up was Thomas Rhett. As you all probably know I am very fond of this man. He is an amazing performer and song writer. The way he is on stage seems like an example of the person he would be in person. He is goofy and fun and pretty damn adorable. I love his songs and he brings them to life with his performance. He had me dancing and singing along the whole time. I highly recommend seeing him live. It is such a fun experience.
Last and definitely not least Mr. Brantley Gilbert. He sounds just as incredible live as he does on the radio. His performances bring his songs to life. It is just as you would imagine it. He has that rough melodious voice that is so sexy. He is the quintessential bad boy but you know underneath beats a heart of pure gold. Both him and his music are so seductive and yet down to earth. His lyrics bring up images of love, danger, fun and adventure. What's not to love?
However my night was not yet done. After the show I got to meet Brantley Gilbert. If you bought a flag at the show then you got the opportunity to meet Brantley. I could not pass this offer up, I mean come on you're only young once. It was so worth it. Brantley was wonderful. He shook my hand and asked me how I enjoyed the show. I told him that it was so worth coming by myself. He told me to be careful with all those crazies out there, which was very sweet. I also got to take a picture with him and he autographed my flag. Overall it was an amazing experience.

Gabrielle Bernstein

This past weekend I had the fortune of hearing Gabrielle Bernstein speak at Golden Bridge Yoga in Los Angeles. Gabrielle is an amazing woman and an inspiring author. I have read her books May Cause Miracles and Add More Ing to Your Life. Her appearance at Golden Bridge Yoga was part of the book launch for her newest book Miracles Now. 

After arriving at Golden Bridge Yoga I ran into my friend Erik, who is a big Gabrielle Bernstein fan just like me. We got to catch up for a bit before going into the yoga studio. There were a lot people there Saturday evening, around 300 people were expected. Despite being in such close proximity with people, it was a lot of fun. We started off with an introduction from Mastin Kipp from the Daily Love. He is a vibrant speaker, so full of energy and knowledge. He was the perfect person to get everyone ready for Gabrielle. 
When Gabrielle walked in the room lit up. She is so luminous that you can't help but feel uplifted by her energy. When she talks you can't help but be drawn in, this is a woman that really walks her talk. Gabrielle regaled us with stories of how the lessons in this book are reflected in her life. Synchronicities pop up everywhere and you are always guided to the message that you need at that moment. Then she led us through some kundalini yoga exercises. This was my first experience with kundalini yoga and I loved it. This is something that I feel can add positivity to my life as well as the lives of others. The exercise are not strenuous but they leave you feeling great afterwards. As Gabrielle said these exercises make you feel high. After that there was a question and answer session. There were many good questions and I think every person there got something out of the answers that Gabrielle gave out. 
The best part was afterwards when we all got to have our copies of Miracles Now signed by Gabrielle. There was a line but it went by pretty quickly. Gabrielle is such an amazing and to get to enjoy a few minutes with her was worth the trip. I am so happy that I was able to have this experience. It's one things to read her books, it's another to get to meet her and enjoy her amazing presence in person.