Hey Yellowcard Set Low!

OMG! someone please pinch me, because I swear the last few days have been a dream.

I've been working on my "concert calender" for a few weeks now. With me now managing a band, concerts and promo are a bigger deal than ever. I've been keeping an eye on a few of the venues in Memphis for some possible shows that could be good promo opportunities...anyway...this is getting off subject.

I'm checking Twitter, which I do like a billion times a day (thank you iPhone!) and see this Tweet from one of my favorite pop punk leading ladies, Cassadee Pope




EXCUSE ME?! SERIOUSLY?! THIS ISN'T A DREAM?!




I would personally like to thank the GENIUS behind this lineup. I could not have put together a more perfect dream tour than these 4 bands. I honestly
don't think I need to say once again how much I ADORE Hey Monday, or idolize Cassadee.

All Time Low: I've been trying to see them live for a few years now. It's one of my dreams to meet the band. They're another one of the one's that have pushed me into following my dreams within the music industry.

Yellowcard: I spent a lot of my high school years with "Ocean Avenue" and "Miles Apart" on repeat.

The Summer Set: While they are a new love, that doesn't make them any less important. My sister saw them last summer & said they were amazing live, so I guess I'll find out for myself soon enough.

Tour dates & venues!

03/25 Sayreville, NJ Starland Ballroom

03/26 Philadelphia, PA Electric Factory

03/28 Washington, DC 9:30 Club

03/29 Charlotte, NC The Fillmore

03/31 Ft Lauderdale, FL Revolution

04/01 Orlando, FL House of Blues

04/02 Atlanta, GA Tabernacle

04/04 St Louis, MO The Pageant

04/05 Kansas City, MO Beaumont Club

04/06 Oklahoma City, OK Diamond Ballroom

04/07 Houston, TX House of Blues

04/08 Dallas, TX Palladium Ballroom

04/09 Austin, TX Stubb's Waller Creek Outdoor Amphitheater

04/11 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre

04/12 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia at LA Live

04/13 Las Vegas, NV House of Blues

04/15 Anaheim, CA Grove of Anaheim

04/16 San Francisco, CA The Warfield Theatre

04/17 Portland, OR Wonder Ballroom

04/18 Seattle, WA Showbox SoDo

04/21 Minneapolis, MN First Avenue

04/22 Milwaukee, WI Eagles Ballroom

04/25 Toronto, ON Sound Academy

04/26 Cleveland, OH House of Blues

04/28 Detroit, MI The Fillmore

04/29 Chicago, IL Congress Theatre

04/30 Cincinnati, OH Bogarts

05/03 New York, NY Best Buy Theater

05/04 Allentown, PA Crocodile Rock

05/05 Clifton Park, NY Northern Lights

05/06 Boston, MA House of Blues

05/07 Baltimore, MD UMBC Fieldhouse

Will you be catching the Dirty Work tour this spring? Which show(s) will you be attending? Which band are you most excited to see?

<3 Jen

I Wish I'd Never Grown Up

I'm still trying to wrap my head around this weekend. I had Saturday off. The first Saturday I've had off since I started my job. I decided to take the day and spend it with my best friend from high school on her college campus.

I'd forgotten how fun it was to constatly be surrounded by people your own age who are on a similar path as you. We hung out in her room and then caught the football game



The home team won, which was great. It was a good game.

But I still can't get over the fact that all my friends are moving on and I'm still stuck in this rut...this town, this mindset.

In high school I was the social one while my best friend was the one who would spend every night at home studying or catching up on TV shows from that weekend. Now it seems like we've switched roles. I don't think what I'm feeling is jealousy, because I'm really happy that she's finally come out of her shell and become the person that she is right now.

I feel a little left out...a little upset...but I still love her to death. We're on completely different paths right now and it's ok. We'll still be friends 20 years from now because she knows me, things about me, that not many other people do.

Then there's the constant debate of getting back into school. I'm probably going back in the spring & after I finish there I'll have a 2 year degree.

This means that it's time to start looking into 4 year schools to finish out my degree. I think I found a school. I'm in love with the football team and after the virtual tour I took of the campus this morning online...it's beautiful

But I've fallen in love with a campus before only to end up hating the people. I really don't want that to be this school. Their Public Relations program is one of the best in the country though. And with the school that it is, I know I would be getting exactly where I want to be in the next 10 years.

It's all about taking that leap of faith. It's so hard to put your trust in everything...being afraid...I don't want to fail (again). I don't want to let people down. I want to be successful. I want people to remember me.

Someone book me a flight to Neverland, because this "growing up" thing? yeah, it sucks.

<3 Jen

I Could Never Stop Loving Jersey

I think I've made it pretty evident over the last few years just how much I love HEY MONDAY. They are definitely a major influence to me and one of the many bands that pushed me into doing what I am now.

I'm sure everyone remembers this blog from a few months ago where I talked about HEY MONDAY'S new EP and Jersey leaving the band.

Lucky for us, HEY MONDAY is not the end of Michael "Jersey" Moriarty.

My "obsession" with Jersey probably comes from my little sister who is crazy in love with this guy. When she met him in Memphis over the 4th of July, I swear she talked about it for MONTHS! It's still one of her favorite stories to tell, right up there with the time she met Never Shout Never's Christofer Drew.

That's all besides the point now. If you follow Jersey on Twitter (@omgitsjersey) then you already know that he's putting on new music. I finally had some time to investigate and I'm completely blown away.

I had no idea this bassist had such a voice!! I'm sitting here with his myspace literally on repeat. An acousitc song every now and then is good, and while I usually have to turn them off half way through (not enough "thump" for me!), these songs have completely blown me away.

I'm really upset that I don't live on the east coast. What I would do to see him live right now!

While Jersey hasn't released a physical EP yet, definitely follow his Twitter and Tumblr for all the latest news.

For sure check out the music on Myspace.

I'm definitely surprised by where Jersey has taken life after HEY MONDAY. I'm excited to see where his solo journey leads him.

<3 Jen

P.S. Jersey, if you ever get down here to the south, hit me up! I've got a band that would LOVE to play with you! We could work something out. Good luck! and I can't wait to hear more from you!

24 Hours With...

What would it be like to spend 24 hours with someone famous? Someone you look up to? A role model?

Work gives me a lot of time to think and this was one of the things that crossed my mind a few nights ago. Actually it was more like "What would it be like to spend 24 hours with Sarah Dessen?" because I think the two of us would get along well, what with our love of pop culture and T.V. and all

I posed the question to my Twitter followers and got some interesting responses; people that I wouldn't normally think typical of a "spend a day with _____" list.

Now, there are some stipulations to this list.

If you choose a celebrity/someone famous, you have to behave as normal as possible. This isn't a "follow a celebrity" type thing. The people on this list, while most are well known for something, are people that I want to talk to, ask questions, get advice from. They're accomplished in their trade or have interesting lives that we can learn from.

So, here goes the list.

Sarah Dessen

So what if she's old enough to be my mom. I've been following her on Twitter for ages & we have so much in common it's almost scary. We ADORE GMA and can't go without it to start our mornings. She got me addicted to Friday Night Lights, one of the BEST T.V. shows in the world. Something about her just seems like she would be a fun person to be around. I'd love to pick her brain about all things writing. Even though I'm not a great fiction/creative writer, I want to get better because I love to write. Maybe Sarah would have some tips for me.

Nick Jonas

Oh come on, you knew he would make this list. Seriously though, for the longest time, I've wanted nothing more than to just TALK to this boy. About what, I don't really know. At only 18, he seems so wise beyond his years. I'd love a chance to sit and talk about life, music, politics, whatever came up.

Diane Sawyer

I'm pretty sure this lady is only part of the reason I'm so interested in journalism. I in no way want to be in front of a camera, but to be the one behind the scenes, asking the hard hitting questions. She's interviewed so many amazing people and been to some of the world's most beautiful places as well as some of the scariest and most dangerous. I'm sure she's got a lot of wisdom and knowledge that she could share with a budding [music] journalist.

Kara DioGuardi

Kara was featured in this month's issue of Seventeen magazine. I had no idea she was as influential to the music industry as she is. For someone who wants to get into the business, I would love to spend a day with her. See what she does, ask her some questions. Learn anything and everything I can about her side of the music industry.

Whitney Port, Lo Bosworth, & Lauren Conrad

I admire these 3 girls so much. They are successful, beautiful, independent 20-somethings. Whitney is a designer, Lo has her blog, and LC...she's done it all: fashion, successful author, inspiring role model. These girls are everything I hope to be over the next 10 years.

Honor Society

Give me 24 hours with these guys: no concert, no music...just a group of friends hanging out, having fun. I seriously want to take these 4 out riding around in my hometown...backroads, windows down, radio turned up, just having fun. Maybe hit up a weekend bonfire or Friday/Saturday night football game. I know for a fact that they're all great guys, all I want is 24 hours to just HAVE FUN!

There you have it. A list of people I would LOVE to spend 24 hours with. What about you? If you had 24 hours, who would you want to spend it with?

<3 Jen

Fall for Fall Television

ABC is advertising this week as their "Red Carpet Premiere Week," as they should since so many new shows, or fan favorites, are hitting the television screen this week.

With all the advertising they've been doing, it got me to thinking about my own obsession for fall T.V. My "premiere week" started at the beginning of the month with the return of a few of my favorite shows, as well as new shows to fall in love with.

Seeing as I have yet to discover the world that is DVR & Tivo, I spend a lot of my time catching up on these shows on the weekend since I work most nights when they air. My schedule can get a little confusing, but once I break it down into days, it's not that bad.

Monday

The beach, the boys, the drama. I'm a little too young to have watched the original BH 90210 (I've seen some episodes though), but I adore 90210. The season's just starting and already the drama, lies, and secrets are more than anyone is going to be able to handle.


CHUCK'S NOT DEAD!! That was the best news ever as I watched the Season 4 premiere of GG a few weeks ago. I'm already scratching my head though, trying to figure things out and stay one step ahead of Gossip Girl herself. What's going to become of the Dan-Serena-Nate Triangle? What about Chuck & Blair??? and who the heck is the new girl hanging out with Nate?!

Tuesday

Started watching this with my mom last season & became addicted. The people, the stories, and I mean, who doesn't love Bob & Jillian yelling at you to work a little harder. I usually end up crying by the end & feeling the need to spend the next 24 hrs in the gym.


Wednesday

Tyra Banks, fashion, catfights...do I need to say more?


LOVE LOVE LOVE this show!! It's based in my FAVORITE city in the whole wide world, Memphis, Tennessee, so you get tons of beautiful shots of the river and downtown. And just last week, I found out that Ashley Tisdale's character, Savannah, is from Millington! *starts humming "It's a Small World" theme* Millington, for those of you who don't religiously stalk me on Twitter, is where Justin Timberlake is from, where my mom's childhood best friend lives. I visit Millington more than Memphis itself. So yes, I had a minor freak out over that. Anyway..back to the point. The show is only 2 episodes in, but I think it's going to be completely amazing. I'm excited to see what challenge they throw at Marty next.

Thursday

AHHHH!!! I am beyond excited for the new season of GA! After that major shooting that ended last season, and Mer losing the baby, I can already tell that this season is going to be full D-R-A-M-A.

What shows are you guys obsessing over this fall? Maybe I'll add a few of them to my weekly line-up.

<3 Jen

Forget Blondes, College Girls Have More Fun

Admit it, college life is hard. College life for a girl, even harder. For the majority of us, college is the first time we've ever really been on our own: away from mom and dad, friends, teachers, grandparents...anyone that had a hand in raising us.

It's tough to be away from all those people. Trust me, I've been there. It's even harder when you're a freshman walking onto campus for the first time and the only thing you know about college is what you've seen on T.V., in movies, or the horror stories you heard from older friends/relatives.

When I go into something new, I do all kinds of research on the subject. The same goes for college. No one in my family, outside of my ultra conservative cousin, had really gone to college before. I was nervous and scared out of my mind. A few google searches later and I had found some blogs that have become like water to me. I literally can't go a day without them. Written by college girls (and guys!), for the average college student, these blogs have yet to disappoint. I hope they provide as much guidence and inspiration for you as they have for me.


College Fashion
I LOVE this blog! I've never been good at dressing like a "fashionista" but I've always known designers and labels. In my high school it was all about club shirts, jeans, sweats, and Uggs. Not too many girls dressed like they owned the runway. This blog completely changed the way I see fashion. I always considered fashion to be something that was just on the runways at Fashion Week or on the red carpet at award shows. It never occured to me that I could actually transfer the looks I saw in my favorite T.V. shows or movies into my real life. The website profiles tons of different looks, all on a college girl's budget. So if you're looking for this fall's must have items, or just want to find a different way to wear the stuff already in your closet, definitely check out the site. OH! and follow them on Twitter

College Candy
College Candy is definitely a must read for real life college advice. These girls & guys don't sugar coat ANYTHING. From dorm life to parties, hook ups and break ups, this site covers every aspect of college life. Tread lightly though, some readers could find the honesty to be a little much. Me, I enjoy the site more than I should and find it a great representation of college life from college kids. It's not always as perfect as Hollywood makes it seems. With different sections and articles covering anything you could want/need advice on, College Candy has a little bit of it all. You can follow them on Twitter too.

Every College Girl
I actually stumbled across this blog earlier this morning. I haven't had much of a chance to puruse the site, but it looks like it's got a lot of good stuff in it. The layout is fairly simple and easy to navigate, with stories and articles every college girl will easily relate to.

So there you have it...my list of blogs that no college girl should live without. Don't just take my word for it though. Check them out for yourself & then let me know what you think. I have a feeling you guys will become just as addicted to them as I am. :)

<3 Jen

I've Got A Rockband

I've had this song



stuck in my head all week. Probably because I can relate to it a lot right now. Life is changing quite rapidly as I type this. I've never been a huge fan of change, but know it's necessary to life, so I've learned to embrace it. While some changes aren't always good, changes are what cause us to grow as people. They are what create the atmosphere for some of life's greatest adventures.

I'm setting out on a new adventure & I couldn't be more excited about it. If you're a faithful reader of my blog, you know how my dreams and goals have changed over the last few years. I went from wanting to be a history major with a foreign language minor, to discovering my love and passion for music and writing.

I've joked about working for Pete Wentz, writing for Rolling Stone magazine, even doing PR work for MTV...with this change in life, all those dreams could one day be a reality.

Recently, life gave me another chance to live out one of my dreams: promoting and managing a band.

That's right people, I'm managing and promotiong my very first band!



Such Great Heights is a group of people with major talent. I can't wait to begin the journey we're embarking on. I've known a few of the members for what seems like my entire life. The music is amazing and I can't wait until I have the chance to share it with the entire world. These guys (and gal!) have all the drive and talent it takes to make it in the music industry today; or at least I think they do.

I'm not sure what the future holds for all of us, but I know that if we give it our all, there's nothing that we won't be able to do. We've got some big goals, and even crazier dreams, and I have faith that we'll accomplish all that we set out to do.

Check out the band on Facebook and follow them on Twitter

Lots of new and exciting stuff coming in the next few weeks. I can't wait for you guys to see it all. Make sure you're following those accounts for all the latest news.

<3 Jen