Bands That Deserve More Attention #2 - You, Me, and Everyone We Know.

After the success of last week's post on Bands That Deserve More Attention, I'm back this week with a different genre. This time, it's the turn of pop-punk in the form of You, Me, and Everyone We Know.

Merry Christmas, I could care less...

I couldn't agree with Sir Corey Taylor more on this one. Christmas is not my 'thing', and I don't think it ever will be. It's not for want of trying though, every year I pull out a Christmas playlist and try and get into the fully festive spirit, but after 21 failed years, I've figured it just isn't for me. But wait, I have perfectly valid reasons.

1. For a start, the Christmas decorations come into shops just before Halloween, so my favourite holiday is ruined by wading through tinsel and fake snow to reach my skulls and pumpkins.

2. The optimism. I'm the most pessimistic person you'll ever meet, therefore a holiday dedicated to cheerful, colourful celebrations is not my bag, baby. Take your vibrant colours elsewhere guys.

3. The consumerism. Obviously, it's a religious holiday, but I'm not religious so that's also another aspect that's wasted on me. While throwing away money is my forte, but I'd much rather fritter my pennies on something useful in comparison to glistening lights that everyone gets sick of after five minutes.

4. The celebration of the cold. I hate the cold with a passion, so I don't wish to be reminded of the snow and sub-zero temperatures by throwing fake snow around my house.

5. The tree. Could you think of something more high maintenance than bringing a pine tree into your home, only to spend hours decorating it while everyone in the house argues over the fact you have too many baubles on one side than the other. Symmetry is key in my life, and I can never get a tree perfectly symmetrical, so I've stopped trying.

6. The adverts. The jingle bells, the crappy jingles, the old men dressed unconvincingly as Santa with an elastic beard - it just doesn't cut it for me.

7. The shoppers. Everyone in my area has sharp elbows when it comes to shopping anyway, but they sharpen them specifically for Christmas and all the normal rules of common decency and public etiquette fly out of the window when they're rushing to get their last minute things. Plan ahead, kids.

8. Christmas dinner. I'm a vegetarian, I don't like roast potatoes and I don't like cranberry sauce, so I just have a plate of mash, Quorn sausages, sprouts and carrots. It might as well be another Sunday.

9. The party season. Sorry, but can we change this around? Why is the party season in the middle of winter when I can't leave the house without five layers and gloves on? How on earth am I expected to go to a party in a skirt in this weather?!

But I couldn't insult the entire holiday, could I? There are some redeeming factors, for example...

1. Elf. The best Christmas movie bar none.

2. The pop songs. While everyone else is blocking their ears and turning off their radios, I'm loving the holiday songs. I could listen to 'Merry Xmas Everybody' every year and still not get bored of it, and it's not just because I love Noddy Holder. But I'm still holding a grudge that The Darkness were beaten to the Christmas Number One, let's face it, this song was a classic.

3. Punk rock Christmas songs. It's nice to hear some original Christmas songs for once, and punk bands do them best. Also, Pete Wentz looks amazing in this thumbnail. Let's just appreciate that thumbnail for a sec...

4. Candy canes. I stock up on these beauties every year and I'll be found gnawing on one every day, just because I frickin' love candy.

But that's it, I'm afraid. I'll probably never convert to loving Christmas, but that's just my opinion. You won't find me dressing as a slutty Santa's little helper and you certainly won't find me carol singing, but I can tolerate it.

What do you love/hate about Christmas?

Bands That Deserve More Attention #1 - Crown Jewel Defense

Oh music blog, why have I forsaken you? Well the truth is, I've been a bit busy studying for my degree. As you might already know, I'm now a third year History student, so if I'm not writing essays, I'm panicking about not writing essays. But I'm here now to bring you some music-related posts I've been publishing over on my main blog Zombies Wear Eyeliner, which deserve their own spotlight over here on Band Shirts. So bear with me while I get back into the swing of writing music posts, your patience will be much appreciated.

So many bands I listen to don't get the attention they deserve, either because they haven't managed to cross the Atlantic yet or they just haven't had enough publicity for my liking. After having enough of people not knowing who the band I'm listening to is, I decided it's about time I did my bit to help them spread the word, that these are bands I fully endorse in the hope that my readers would love them just as much as I do. I've put a number after this title because I'm sure I'll be making more of these posts to bring some of my favourite unknown bands to you.

First up is Crown Jewel Defense, a stadium metal band from California.

I first saw these guys a few years back when they supported The Darkness, and I was hooked from the moment they stepped up on stage. Of course, I always research support bands beforehand and I knew they were going to be killer, so I splashed some glitter on my face to show my support.

If you're a fan of stadium metal, glam rock, screaming electrics, supersonic vocals and energetic beats, you'll love CJD. Their inspired yet individual style is captivating, and their image will definitely stick in your mind - who else would've thought to slap on glitter instead of concealer?

If you have any unloved bandanas kicking around, kindly donate them to lead singer Taylor Hood, it seems like he's facing a shortage because they're all tied to his mic stand. Seriously, I've never seen such a well-loved mic.

The album Crown Jewel Defense contrasts the raw power behind Forgotten Life with the quirkiness of Mandy and the solemnity of Die Alone, and it all makes for a killer debut album, you'll be hard pressed to find a point where you're not singing along to the catchy lyrics. Metal Rain is an unusual but very welcome addition, it's definitely not the kind of metal we've heard before. Quite possibly my favourite track, Wasting Days would top the rock charts if CJD were as popular as they deserve to be. If you're not signing along to Alive Again within seconds, you'll find yourself humming it hours later.

The thing with Crown Jewel Defense's songs is the way Taylor's vocals imprint on your mind, yet there's no way anyone would dare to give him a run for his money on the karaoke machine; he hits notes I've never even heard a girl hit before.

Their uniqueness is hard to describe in words - imagine a plateful of Justin Hawkins with a side order of Slash, sprinkled with a dash of Marc Bolan and a generous helping of Journey and you're only halfway to CJD. 

Their self titled album came out this year and I recommend you all go and buy it right now on iTunes. And while you're at it, have a listen here to their cover of Guns 'N' Roses Nightrain, coincidentally my favourite GnR song but CJD totally blew the original out of the water. 

In short, I can't express how much I love Crown Jewel Defense. This first album convinced me that I'll follow their work for as long as they're on the scene. Long may they reign.

Band Shirt Archive*

As you know, band shirts are a massive part of my life. Without them, my image wouldn't be the same, my identity would be a little less complete, I'd lose my individuality, and most of all, the importance of music in my life would be left unspoken. Despite the fact a million other people own the same shirt, I feel as if band shirts speak volumes about me, sending a message to the people that I pass on the street - in a way it makes me feel as if I'm more approachable to people, I'm happy to speak to strangers about the band shirt I'm wearing, and I have done on many occasions.

What's also important to me is music education. Without my school's musical resources and the consequent education I received with learning instruments and the confidence that comes with performing in front of a class of my peers, I wouldn't be as aware or open-minded with music as I am now. 

Who would I be without those music lessons in primary school singing 'It's A Long Way To Tipperary'? Who would I be without having performed 'Rock Around The Clock' on guitar in front of my entire primary school? Who would I be without still remembering how to play that Titanic song on the recorder? I'd be half the person I am now, I'd be a shy, quivering wreck, and I'd be completely oblivious and prejudiced against the infinite musical genres out there.

Band Shirt Archive combines these two things - contributing to musical education and band shirts.

The archive was established by two guys, Nate and Mike, with the aim of supporting music education charities by raising money through autographed merchandise auctions and shirt sales from the partners that advertise on their website. While the project has been going for a few years, it was shifted into top gear last year as the guys saw their dream unfolding big style.

For example, this year saw their efforts turn an autographed shirt from the Pine Box Boys into digital tuners for a high poverty school band in West Virginia. That's a cause I believe in.

Their fundraising target? $1,000,000. A dream too big? Not for these guys, as in their words, 'anything less than shooting the moon just isn't our style'. These guys are definitely my style.

As of last month, their fundraising reached out to 1,200 students in need of better music supplies and resources, and these guys have no intention of stopping there. With nearly 2,000 archived shirts and almost 90,000 shirts available through partner sellers, the project has its feet firmly on the ground.

So how can you help? Well, in many ways. Spreading the word is the main priority, but at the same time, if you have contacts in the music industry, please, make use of them for the sake of music charities. Let the boys at Band Shirt Archive know if you have any friends who could help get hold of autographed equipment which could raise the much-needed funds this project is aiming for. Perhaps you might want to submit a shirt to the archive, or grab a shirt or two from the sellers on the Band Shirt Archive website. The opportunities are endless - you can do something for music charities.

What's more, their homepage is a great source of music news - where else would I have found out about P!nk's oldest fan? I'll admit, this amused me far more than it should have.

I fell in love with this company from the moment they contacted me - they're not out for personal gain, they're in the business to make a difference through band shirts, and they're making a huge change already. If I or you, my readers, can make any contribution to this cause, these guys deserve it, I can't wait to see them grow and reach beyond their targets! 

So now you know who they are and what you can do for them, what are you waiting for? Visit the Band Shirt Archive here.

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Pet Shop Boys Electric Tour - London O2 Arena 18th June 2013

As my first Pet Shop Boys live experience, I didn't know what to expect, but I'd seen their set at Glastonbury on the BBC so I assumed I was due for a spectacle of Morphsuit-sporting box-headed backing dancers and countless costume changes for our two main men. Thankfully, I wasn't disappointed.