Anyway, I cant wait for another great show and hope to come back with tons of great photos to share with you all! But for all of you more adventurous types, live music lovers and for all the Bad Girls who want to shake it with New Politics and 311, get your tickets now @ livenation.com. Are you "Down"? See you there!

 

 

    Their debut album, This Album Does Not Exist, was released on Aug. 26, 2016, and features their hit single “Sweet Disaster.” The single was released earlier in June and has been climbing the alternative charts all year. It peaked at number four on AltNations Top 18, was at number 16 on iTunes Alternative charts and reached number 19 on Billboards Alternative chart. The song has a very catchy beat and grungy ‘90s guitar hooks all blended together perfectly with an array of modern synthy sounds.
    Trust me, it’s good and so is the rest of the album for that matter! I really like the message in their song “Never Too Late to Dance,” reminding us all that it’s never too late for anything in this life, including happiness! The album has an overall positive and happy vibe to it that just makes you want to smile. And, to top things off, they are currently on The Low Lives Tour with one of my current favorite bands, The Griswolds. Unfortunately, I missed my opportunity to review their show; however, I was able to ask them a few questions via email...

Question: How are you enjoying your success this year? Has there been any time for you to really celebrate? And if so, how have you celebrated?

Dreamers: We don't take days off, but we get plenty of time for small celebrations along the way.  For instance, last night on tour we cooked a massive spaghetti dinner in our hotel and drank wine.  It feels like a constant celebration where we work hard at the same time. There's nothing like it.

Q: I was excited to see you on this year’s Firefly Festival Line-up; are you scheduled for any more big Festivals this summer?

D: We’re so excited for the opportunity to play at that festival with all those great artists and bands.  We will be at many more festivals this year, Free Press, Bottle Rock, Bunbury to name a few. Others will be announced soon.

Q: What’s the biggest festival you have played? And which has been your favorite so far?

D: The largest we’ve played was Lollapalooza, which was amazing. It's hard to pick favorites ‘cause we've had so many good times. But mine might have been Big Guava Fest in Tampa. It was one of our first big festival plays back in 2015. We shared a stage with The Pixies, watched The Strokes, and there was a carnival with rides in the festival. I rode the gravitron!  

Q: Do you remember how old you were when you really became interested in music? In general and as a career?

D: I was apparently into music since I was born, and as a baby I wanted to play saxophone. I never thought I’d do it as a career till I was about 18-20. I did a lot of soul searching during that period and decided I was gonna make the leap and that I was gonna succeed.  

Q: When did you write your very first song and what prompted that?

D: I think I wrote my first real rock song around then, age 20 or 21.  It was after I had thought every possible life path through and realized that being in a rock band was the best one for many reasons.

Q: Do you remember the first album you ever bought?

D: I think mine was Weird Al In 3D. (I also love this album and love that it was your answer. Weird Al is greatly underappreciated but he is a lyrical genius.)

Q: Who would you say has been your biggest influence / inspiration?

D: I could say John Lennon, or maybe Kurt Cobain.  I think a lot of people in my field would say the same thing.

Q: Who’s on your current top playlist?

D: The Griswolds, Zella Day, Tame Impala, Oasis.  

Q: Were there ever times any of you felt like giving up? If so, how did you overcome it? And, do you have any advice for new musicians out there?

D: There definitely have been times when I felt like there was no way I could make this happen, that it was an insurmountable challenge or endless road. But I had made such a firm and thought-out decision from the beginning that I was gonna see it through, and I think my stubbornness keeps me going. I think you have to understand that achieving something big is an endless road, a lifetime of hard work, and if you aren’t into that you should do something else.   

Q: Anything new in the works you would like us to announce?

D: Check out the video we just filmed for our song “Sweet Disaster.” It was a ridiculously fun experience to make. Also check out our tour schedule; endless big and exciting shows are being planned for us.

Q: Are there any other shows planned in or around our area? (Eastern Shore, DC, Baltimore, Philly)

D: Stay tuned. We'll be touring non-stop throughout the year and there are some secret things in the works. Thanks!

    Hopefully, I will be able to catch these guys next time around, but in the meantime, be sure to check them out this summer at the Firefly Music Festival, stream them online @ Spotify, Soundcloud etc... and for more info, please visit their website @ https://www.dreamersuniverse.com/.

 

    Hello Coco fans! Hope everyone has been staying warm with lots of great music! I certainly have been trying to and am finally ready to share one of my last adventures with you all! On December 3rd I headed up to Philly, city that I love, in search of a little dive bar called Ortleib’s Lounge. My mission, to check out a shoegaze band, Dead Leaf Echo, fronted by a fellow Stephen Decatur grad!

 

    He is officially listed on their facebook page simply as Lg: Guitar, Vox, Keys; however, I know him as Lloyd Galyon  (AKA Pancho). Pancho was the goofy kid who sat next to me in Spanish class and kept us all entertained, making us laugh in between congregating verbs and learning how to ask to use the bathroom in Spanish, “Pueblo ir al baño?” (the only way we were allowed to go)!

 

    So, since I grew up and became a concert photo journalist and Lloyd Galyon grew up and became a rock star, I felt obligated to go check out his band and see what he has been up to! Other members of Dead Leaf Echo are Ana B.: Guitar, Vox, Keys; Kevin K.: Drums; and Steve S.: Bass. It was truly a pleasure to meet them all and see them perform.

 

    I arrived at Ortleib’s Lounge just a little before the band, so I had just a few minutes  to take it all in before people really started showing up. Ortleib’s is rich in local history and has its own unique and colorful story which I read about here @ http://hiddencityphila.org/2013/11/brewhouse-jazzhaus-ortliebs-lives-on/ before my visit. I was told it was small and, man, they were not kidding!

 

    There was a lot of demolition and rebuilding going on all around the block but tucked in between scaffolding rafters and safety fences I finally found a small brick building with its famous red “O” above the window. There was a tiny side door, which reminded me of the small dutch houses we would tour on school field trips, that led into the front of the house. This consisted of four, maybe five, tables and a small bar that was only long enough to seat about a dozen. I very quickly found the restrooms, which were located just in front of a set of large, very old looking wooden doors; and there it was, I had found the venue! Just beyond those wooden doors, the space opened up to a fairly large space with a sound booth in the back near the large doors and a small, but adequate, stage on the far end.

 

    Originally, a total of four bands were scheduled to perform, however, the headlining act, False Tracks, had to cancel, which left Dead Leaf Echo as the new headliner. The first band up was an indie psychedelia, garage, punk, basement, fuzz group called Secret Nudist Friends. They were full of fun, raw energy and I really enjoyed their set!

 

    They are a bit on the harder side for psychedelia; therefore, I’m going to call them a psychedelia punk rock bank! Their whole performance was reminiscent of Television or The Ramones and felt very CBGB’s worthy. I really enjoyed their song “No One at the Mall,” which has a Ramones kinda of sound, with a catchy bass line and a silly, fun, chanty chorus that is just stuck in my head. I also liked the catchy sounds of “Something On Your Mind.”

 

    You can find some of their music on Spotify; however, I had a chance to speak with them after their set and they indicated that their roster has changed a lot since the recordings on Spotify but they did play a lot of the same songs. Their current line-up is Maddy on guitar and lead vocals, Andy on bass and Brian provided drums, backing vocals and even sang lead on a couple songs.

 

    It was very nice getting to chat with them and hope our paths cross again one day. I would highly recommend them for a fun night out! For more info please check them out on their Facebook and @ secretnudistfriends.bandcamp.com.

 

    Aster More was up next. They had a little trouble fitting all six members onto this small stage, but eventually figured it out and played a pretty good set. I was not at all familiar with their music and can only say that it was very experimental. They reminded me a bit of Sonic Youth with their screeching guitars and melodic vocals. They seemed to have a rather large, local following as their fans filled the space almost as awkwardly as the band filled the stage. You can find them on facebook and preview and buy their music @ astermore.bandcamp.com.

 

    Dead Leaf Echo had their way with us next. They took a little bit of time setting up their endless panels of effects pedals but they were well worth the wait. They played an incredible set and sounded better than any recording I’ve heard so far. Their swirling guitar sounds were perfectly woven through and in between their dreamy, constantly echoing vocals. Lg and Ana B. were very in sync with each other and their vocals harmonized very nicely. You got the sense that they are very in tune with each other and have a really good dynamic on stage.

 

    Dead Leaf Echo has been making a name for themselves as a Brooklyn based shoegaze band. They have played over 160 shows nationally in just the last two years including SXSW (South by Southwest Conference & Festivals in Austin, Tex.), CMJ, NXNE, Northside Festival, Desert Stars Festival, Kalamazshoegazer Festival in Kalamazoo, Mich., and many, many more.

 

    Shoegaze is a very literal genre of music which really describes the way these bands use such heavy effects pedals that they appear to be gazing at their shoes, when in fact, they are really just concentrating on which pedal to hit next. I would also have to label them as dreampop and/or darkwave because of their poppy, dreamy, yet sometimes dark and mysterious lyrics.  

 

    Their debut LP, Thought and Language, was released in 2013 and was mixed by John Fryer (Lush, NIN, Depeche Mode). In 2014 they released an EP entitled true.deep.sleeper and in 2015 they gave us the “Lemonheart” 7” single, which also has a cute little video available on YouTube.

 

    “Lemonheart” is definitely one of the first songs I gravitated to and I was very excited to see them perform it live. They also performed their most recent single “I Will Do (Anything)”, which the group released on Nov. 4th as part of a collaborative project with another group called Did You Die. The single is one side of a split-cassette with a song by Did You Die featured on the other side. The single will also appear on their next album, which they hope to release later this year. I really loved this song and have posted a short video for you all to check out on our Instagram!

 

    All in all, it was a very good night! I had a great time catching up with Pancho and discovering some cool new tunes for you all! If you too would like to hear a Decatur alumni, please check out Dead Leaf Echo @ http://www.deadleafechonyc.com and you can stream now on Soundcloud, Spotify and more. 

 

For more photos in the Photo Gallery please click here: http://www.coconuttimes.com/oc-md-photo-gallery/February-17-2017/DEAD-LEAF-ECHO-at-Phillys-Ortleibs-Lounge/images

 

 

    November 1st, I finally had the opportunity to officially photograph and review GROUPLOVE at The Fillmore in Philadelphia. They are currently on tour in support of their third album, Big Mess, which just released September 9, 2016. This indie-alt-rock band has come a long way since I first saw them perform at the very first Firefly back in 2012. Everyone there walked away saying “those guys were awesome, they will definitely be ones to watch” and so I have! I went home, promptly purchased their debut album, Never Trust a Happy Song, and became a GROUPLOVE addict. I have been trying to review a show ever since and this time, it finally all came together!

 

    After a day of walking around the city of brotherly love, I finally arrived at The Fillmore just in time to catch the last few songs of the opening band, Dilly Dally. They are a Canadian indie, alt, rock band that had a look and sound reminiscent of mid ‘90s experimental post-punk bands such as Sonic Youth and The Pixies. Their music was much heavier than I expected but in a good, raw, punk rock way.

 

    MUNA was up next, and they were great! I still don’t know too much about them except that they are from LA, they have a few songs available on Spotify and they play lovely, synthy, dark pop music. They sound a lot like CHVRCHES but definitely have a darker heavier sound. I liked them a lot and will be on the lookout for their debut album, About U, which is set to release February 3, 2017.
 

    GROUPLOVE fans seemed to come out of nowhere and had the room packed long before the band finally hit the stage. They opened with “I’m With You,” which I thought was a brilliant way to get the crowd’s attention as we all settled in for the night. The song has a melodically long intro, which continues to  build into fun, chant-along lyrics and then ends with ramped-up vocals, screaming guitars and an incredible light show. What a way to kick things off!

 

    Lead singers Hannah Hooper and Christian Zucconi, were adorable with matching fluorescent hair colors, one greenish blue, the other a reddish orange! They have a style truly their own and I for one loved their looks for the night! Zucconi had on his favorite dress, which he is also pictured wearing in the cover jacket for Big Mess, a beanie cap, ripped jeans and classic black converse! Hooper had a bright red bomber jacket that matched her hair perfectly. By the second song, “Good Mourning,” she ditched the jacket to reveal a black, lacey leotard and she was looking fierce!

 

    There was an overwhelming response to their #1 hit, “Tongue Tied,” which did reach #1 on the alt rock charts and #3 on the US rock chart. The song has been certified platinum and the crowd sang it out so loudly that the band was clearly touched by the out pour of love for this song. In the midst of such hard times for our country, it is really nice to hear such inspiring music. Almost every song on the new album has a pretty clear message of hope and love and it was nice to see them humbled by their fans response! They are a band born out of love, after all.     

 

    Their story goes a little like this: girl meets boy and invites him on a crazy, once-in-a-lifetime adventure that eventually leads to the forming of an awesome inde rock band; and they have been touring, writing music and falling more and more in love ever since! They even recently celebrated their daughter Willow’s first birthday, who is also already on her first world tour! (with them of course).
 

    Part of their adventure included meeting drummer Ryan Rabin, who also self-produced the first official self-titled EP, which appeared on January 25, 2011. Rabbin was no stranger to the music business being the son of famous, talented musician Trevor Rabin, who is the former guitarist of ‘80s rock band Yes. After leaving Yes, Rabin (Trevor) became a film composer and has scored more than 40 feature films, winning numerous awards.
 

    So, I can see where Rabin (Ryan) gets it! Producing amazing sounds is just in his blood and he has some interesting fashion choices of his own as well. He has become known for performing in either full bodied pajama suits or long johns with no shoes and crazy socks. He seems to have a large collection of said crazy socks, for I have never seen him wear the same pair twice. For this evening’s performance he came out wearing a T-Shirt w/ long johns pants and crazy socks, of course. Not sure when the shirt came off but bravo! He also showed off his black-light-friendly, light-up drum set during an amazing drum solo.     Rabin and guitarist Andrew Wessen both grew up in LA and seem to have a pretty tight rapport. Rabin ended his drum solo and went straight into introducing Wessen to take the lead vocals on “Cannonball,’ and, of course, they both did an amazing job! I knew Wessen has recorded more vocals but this was the first time I had seen him take the lead at a show and I was super excited about it!

 

    Original bassist Sean Gadd, a songwriter and guitarist from London, recorded the first two albums with them; however, in 2013, he left the band and was replaced by Daniel Gleason. Gleason began touring with them right away and seems to be the perfect fit. He has also now recorded with them for latest album Big Mess.

 

    Anyway, that’s the abridged version as I see it but now back to the show. They did three of my favorite songs from Spreading Rumours right in a row, “Shark Attack,” “Hippy Hill” and “Borderlines and Aliens”. They also threw in an excellent cover of Beastie Boys’s “Sabotage,” which seems to have become a favorite cover for many bands; however, this version included Hooper rapping which I thought was fantastic and exactly on point!

 

    They pretended to end the show abruptly with their newest hit single, “Welcome To Your Life,” which has been climbing the alt rock charts. They quickly exited the stage at the end of the song but nobody moved. The crowd was frozen and all began chanting “Grouplove and 1 more song.”

 

    After a very brief intermission, Zucconi came meandering back out with an acoustic guitar. He proceeded to play an amazing solo, acoustic version of “Enlighten Me,” a very quiet and heartfelt performance that felt very intimate as he encouraged the crowd to sing along. As the song came near its end, I could feel the intensity in his performance building and noticed the rest of the band getting back into position, and to my delight, they blasted into the full version for the end of the performance and what turned out to be just the beginning of an incredibly long four-and-a-half song encore!  

 

    They continued with “Beans on Pizza,” which was a bonus track on the deluxe version of Spreading Rumours. By half a song, I was referring to a little diddy they performed for the ending credits theme song to the Netflix original adult animated series, BoJack Horseman. The song is titled “Back in the 90s (BoJack’s Theme)” and is about 40 seconds long; however, they seemed to have gained a side following of fans just because of this series and they even had the Horseman heads to wear while performing!
“Ways to Go” and “Colours” officially ended the show, but I wanted more and so I went in search of the bus to see if I could get a chance to say hi! I waited for about and hour but mission accomplished and they were all so very nice!  

 

    I urge everyone to check out GROUPLOVE and go see them live. They are amazing to watch, and please remember to always let love guide your way, you never know what adventure may lie ahead for you!

 

    Oh yeah, and by the way, Radio 104.5 was there to host the event and they have just announced that GROUPLOVE is the headlining act for this year’s Winter Jam, Sunday, January 15th. This year’s line-up also includes River Run North, LP, Judah & the Lion, Capital Cities and Phantogram. For more info please visit: http://www.radio1045.iheart.com

 

    And for more info on GROUPLOVE please visit: http://www.grouplovemusic.com

Thank You!

For more photos in the Photo Gallery please click here: http://www.coconuttimes.com/oc-md-photo-gallery/December-16-2016/GROUPLOVE-Big-Mess-Tour-2016/images

 

For more photos in the Photo Gallery please click here: http://www.coconuttimes.com/oc-md-photo-gallery/September-16-2016/Radio-1045-Summer-Block-Party-May-1-2016/images

 

Q: Anything new in the works?

A: Not yet but we are working on it!

Q: If you were a member of The Griswolds family, who would you be? Which family member are you most like?

A: Clark, of course.

Q: How did the tour in Australia go with Passion Pitt? (another band that I adore)

 

A: Unfortunately that was cancelled but we did get to enjoy some time at home!

    I did manage to get backstage after their show for just a quick minute but before I had a chance to say much, Andrew McMahon was calling all performers back on to the stage and, sadly, we never had the chance to meet back up. Other band members include bassist Tim John (who just celebrated a birthday, Happy B-day Tim), guitarist Daniel Duque-Perez, and drummer Lachlan West (aka Lucky). They were all very sweet for the brief moment I got to meet them. They all seem to be very genuine, very funny, very sweet guys! Oh, and did I mention they’re all pretty darn cute too?!
    The Griswolds have now released a new single, “Out of My Head,” that has had me hooked from the first note. Their sound has become so sharp and refined and I for one feel that they are maturing very nicely into their rightful positions as writers of great music! I can’t wait for the release of their new album, which will hopefully be announced soon. I am also very excited to see that they were added to the line-up for Radio 104.5’s last Summer Block Party of the season along with Iration, Miike Snow and CHVRCHES. Visit radio1045.iheart.com for more info. It is coming up really fast:  Sun., Sept. 18, at the Festival Pier and I just can’t wait to see the boys in action again! For more information see their official website: http://blog.wearethegriswolds.com/splash

     Because of all the running around that I did trying to get pictures and interviews, I missed most of the Andrew McMahon & the Wilderness show, but did get to hear one of his hits “Cecilia and the Satellite.” I wasn’t that familiar with his music at the time, but have since grown to really like it. I have since had another opportunity to see him live so I will save his story for another article which I hope to get to you soon.

For more photos in the Photo Gallery please click here!! http://www.coconuttimes.com/oc-md-photo-gallery/September-9-2016/WILDERNESS-POLITICS-TOUR-2015/images

 

    I’m in New Orleans preparing for the CHADD conference I wrote about in Coconut Times last month.  The last thing I do at night and first thing I do upon waking is turn on WWOZ; the best radio station ever.  This morning I heard just the first few words of a poem and thought to myself, “Gee - that sounds like Allen Toussaint’s voice and his piano playing in the background.”  His talk about growing up and visiting with his country relatives and sitting on their porch at night with no electricity yet feeling so safe and loved - This is what inspired him to write the beautiful song “Southern Nights” recorded by Glen Campbell.
    I was thinking that Mr. Toussaint had popped into WWOZ to help with their fundraising drive and was shocked to hear the show host announce that Allen had died just hours before from a heart attack while touring in Madrid, Spain.  What a tremendous loss to this city and music lovers around the world.  This most kind, soft spoken southern gentleman has left us with a legacy that will live on as long as music is cherished!
    I grew up listening to his songs such as “Mother-In-Law” sung be Ernie K-Doe, “Lipstick Traces” sung by Benny Spellman, silly songs like “Splish Splash I was Taking a Bath,” the most beautiful “Tell It like It Is” sung by Aaron Neville, “Get Out of My Life Woman” recorded by many including Jerry Garcia and the Doors, “Working In The Coal Mine” recorded by Lee Dorsey, “Lady Marmalade” (Patti LaBelle), “Yes I Can Can,” “Ride Your Pony,” “Fortune Teller,” “Sneakin Sally Through the Alley,” and the list just goes on and on.  
In more recent years I’ve had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing both Allen Toussaint and Irma Thomas.  Irma has recorded many of Allen’s songs including my favorite entitled “It’s Raining.” I saw them both perform this song last spring at French Quarter Fest and Jazz Fest.  As a matter of fact, this was the only song Irma sang at the French Quarter Fest as it was her opening song and the heavens just opened up with a tremendous thunder storm.  Irma also introduced us to Allen’s “Ruler of My Heart” which Nora Jones just sang on OZ. Allen produced, along with Elvis Costello, the first CD to be recorded in NOLA after hurricane Katrina entitled “River in Reverse.”  I’m certainly feeling his “Tears, Tears and More Tears” and “Where is the Love” from that Grammy-nominated album.
    I’m not going to tell my Allen stories today but next time remind me to at least tell you about the first time I saw him driving his Rolls down Frenchman Street - really funny.  I would like to share the conversation I just had with Charmaine Neville.  She is forever “firing” on stage her long time piano player and band leader, Amasa Miller.  Charmaine told me that whenever she did a benefit with Allen Toussaint, he’d tease her by saying, “have you fired Amasa yet?  Cause I’d really like to be in your band.”  Charmaine told me that her bass player was touring with Allen and had called her at 3:30am from Spain to tell her the sad news.  Charmaine says, “Well, that big band up in heaven just got even better.”
    Pat Jolly (photographer and Night Mayor of New Orleans Scene) wrote the following to me this morning - “Allen was our greatest New Orleans musical hero and one of the world's most amazingly talented and beloved musicians of our century. He had so many cherished qualities of being what it really means to be a human being. He touched so many people's lives in such a personal way. He was kind, caring, gave of himself to others smilingly, and was always graciously exemplifying the definition of being a true gentlemen.”
    Throughout his life Mr. Toussaint kept R & B alive in the tradition and continually took us to new places with his soul and funk.  WWOZ is playing “Everything I Do Is Going to Be Funky From Now On” as I write this tribute.  New Orleans celebrates both life and one’s home going and I’m sure I’ll be second lining for Allen later this week.  Thanks for letting me share!

    Lead singer Sam Harris is a very talented musician who has an amazing voice and also happens to be able to play the piano, guitar, bass, saxophone, drums and at one point, he even pulled out a harmonica. He was super fun to watch as he constantly moved around the stage singing, dancing and switching between instruments. Keyboardist Casey Harris is truly a pleasure to watch on the stage. Though he has been blind since birth, he has become one amazing musician and has found a performing style all his own. He really lets it all go; stationed behind his keyboards, he never stops dancing and moving ferociously along with the music, giving every song his all! He seemed to be feeling every minute of the whole experience in a bigger and deeper way than most could probably understand and his happiness seemed to radiate out through every keystroke.

   Casey is the older brother of Sam, who have both known guitarist Noah Feldshuh since Sam and Noah shared the same kindergarten class. In many interviews I have seen of them, the three of them have all said that they always knew they wanted to be in a band and that they always knew they wanted to get out of their small hometown of Ithaca, N.Y. They met drummer Adam Levin while attending college at The New School, a university in New York City, and have been a tight group ever since. This closeness is very apparent while they are performing; you can see the way they all feed off of each other, pushing one another past their limits, which overall, makes for one very impressive show.
    X Ambassadors are also becoming known for finding lots of ways to connect with their fans and they have made tons of special appearances along their travels. The video for their hit song “Renegades” features people with disabilities who, like Casey, are overcoming the odds, which is really what that song and much of their album is all about. I was happy to read on their insta-gram page that, earlier that day, they stopped by the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia to wish one lucky girl a very happy birthday. It is inspiring to see how their music is reaching so many different kinds of people and helping them to overcome whatever they may be dealing with!
    The crowd went nuts as Sam sang, “I wanna be “Naked” with you,” a song that is really about letting go of insecurities and just being your raw ‘naked’ self! Then he dedicated the song “Gorgeous” to all his Philly fans and we all just lost it again! I didn’t think the crowd could get any more worked up; and then they played “Renegades” and O My Goodness, the energy that exploded was enough to electrify the whole darn factory! LOL!! I had an opportunity to say hi after the show and I have to say that they really are the nicest group of guys ever. I asked them if they remembered seeing me at Firefly and they very nicely replied Yes, and excitedly went on to say that, “Firefly is our favorite festival ever, hands down.” Laughing and smiling, Casey quickly went into the story, stating how “it was such a crazy blur this year. We flew into Dover and arrived just an hour before we had to be on-stage and then this electrical storm was coming so everyone had to scramble to get the equipment packed up and get us back to the Hotel. It all happened so quick but it was so much fun.”
    The VHS tour is their second headlining tour and has been selling out dates across the country. The tour continues through December and then they just announced that they will be opening for Muse on the Drones North American tour. The closest dates to us are at the Wells Fargo Center in Philadelphia, Pa., on Jan. 31 or the Verizon Center in Washington, D.C. on Feb. 1 2016. Tickets are on sale now and these shows will most likely sell out so I would highly recommend buying yours today! It was also recently announced that they will be performing at this years VH1’s Best Music of 2015 concert, which will air live on Nov. 12th @ 9pm. For info please visit: xambassadors.com
 

 

There's a very famous song entitled Do You Know What It Means To Miss New Orleans which became even more beloved after hurricane Katrina hit just over ten years ago and displaced so many from their NOLA homes. If you've ever been to New Orleans, you know you've left at least a little piece of your heart when you had to return home.  If you haven't yet been to the Big Easy, you'll discover what we're talking about when you come to the CHADD conference November 12 - 14.

CHADD (Children and Adults with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder) is the nation’s leading nonprofit organization providing education, advocacy, and support for those with ADHD and coexisting conditions. With worldwide membership, CHADD hosts the largest gathering of individuals and families affected by ADHD and the professionals and educators who support the ADHD community. Attendees come to the annual conference year after year for the latest in ADHD-related research, education, trends, treatment options, solutions and to network with others.

The 2015 conference theme, ADHD: Compassion and Courage in the Big Easy refers to overcoming challenges faced by those managing ADHD, and providing opportunities to explore current thinking and emerging trends. The conference will focus on different perspectives and provide participants access to cutting-edge ADHD research and information to build new understanding.

  I'm writing this to encourage you to register NOW and reserve your room at the beautiful Hyatt Regency on Loyola Avenue while rooms are still available at the special discounted rate.  I also urge you to plan to spend a few more days in New Orleans if your budget will allow so you can fully enjoy all the sessions and special events the conference has to offer and get to see and know the city.  Visit our web site, CHADD.org or go directly to conference info at http://www.chadd.org/Training-Events/Annual-International-Conference-on-ADHD.aspx  You may also call our National Resource Center tr 800-233-4050.

The city is known for its gumbo of music from many genres and eras, rich decadent food and its oh so unique melting pot of cultures. Here's my "must do and see" list for making the most of your trip.

·    To get from the airport to the hotel, just pick up a round trip shuttle pass by the baggage claim.  You can book online before you leave home and perhaps save a few bucks.