Granted, what is popular on the pop charts these days doesn't really mesh with what I'm listening to. Oh, sure there are some bands that have broken through, like Fitz & the Tantrums (on rock formats, anyway), but for the most part, the stars of the day--Pink, Bruno Mars, Rihanna, and the current #1 song by Robin Thicke (the Mover of the Week) are the ones that I've warmed up to.
Especially with indie rock songs, that, unless they cross over to pop, and with the lack of new commercial radio stations that play this music in the New York area, chances are you'll only hear it on satellite, college radio, or some of the abundant streaming services that are out there.
But, when you have been away from following music for a while, how do you get back in? That's happened to me several times this year. If you want to find a place to see your favorite act when they come into town, where do you look?
The amphitheaters are probably the best. They operate during the summer months, and you can see both current and classic acts play. Jones Beach in New York and the PNC Bank Arts Center are the two well known venues in this area. From Kid Rock, to Black Sabbath, and even The Rascals, a great cross section of artists who've already been here this summer. Several of my friends went to see Train in concert last weekend, and I heard they put on a great show.
Still to come are Matchbox Twenty, Maroon 5, Blake Shelton and The Black Crowes.
Another popular area, is the Mayo Center for the Performing Arts, close by in Morristown, NJ, right on South Street. We saw Blondie there a few years back, and from what I hear, tonight (August 7), Todd Rundgren performed. What's great about venues like this is that they are local and the tickets are pretty reasonable. Also, as it's indoors, the shows go year around. Cheap Trick, Alice Cooper, Dave Mason, and Don Felder of the Eagles are some of those who will perform over the next few month.
Of course, the type of music you seek depends on the type of venue that's out there. Aside from the above mentioned, the legendary Stone Pony in Asbury Park has a mix of classic artists and newbies. If you're into They Might Be Giants, Shinedown, Dropkick Murphys, all you have to do is to head down the shore. Indie fan? Well, Maxwells in Hoboken is no more, but several clubs in New York City would suit your tastes. And finally, there's the return of the Starland Ballroom, featuring more name artists like Cake, Stone Temple Pilots, and Tegan & Sara. The choice is yours.
CHARTBEAT: It's been over nine months since Hurricane Sandy, and as New Jersey continues to recover (some are back, better than before, while some communities remain in shambles). The state, in support of their "Stronger Than the Storm" campaign, is running a song contest to see what describes Jersey's resiliency. The official "summer anthem" will be chosen. Paul Czekaj, who recorded his tribute "Even Better Than Before" has submitted that song. A great choice, and hopefully it will win, but my pick would be his current "At the Beach", which, despite no "Jersey" reference (we all know, however, what state he's talking about), describes what the ultimate summer activity is. That, to be would make an excellent summer anthem.
And, for the fourth week, "At the Beach" holds on to the Top Spot. There's no immediate contenders for the top, unless you want to count the persistent "San Francisco" by Foxygen, which had held the top spot the two weeks before Czekaj. Phoenix and Omnia Hegazy switch positions 3 and 4, while Cayucas' "High School Lover" rounds out the top 5.
MY BELLE AMIE: Some songs are immediate to my ears, some take some time. But in the case of Wild Belle's "Keep You", it's a little bit of both. When I added this song, I immediate took to its catchiness, but then somehow forget about it. It moved pretty quickly up my chart, but stalled in the 20's. Every event and trip will recall some sort of music, and the Wildwood Crest trip was no exception. There was one song going thru my head that I couldn't readily identify; only when this song came up that I realized it was it. And even now, I can't get it out of my head. "Keep You" moves up to #7 in its 21st chart week, and there may be no end in sight. Incidentally, the band is from Chicago, and is a duo consisting of siblings Elliot and Natalie Bergman. It's from their debut Isles, and when "Keep You" finally runs its course, there are two subsequent singles to check out, "Backslider" and "It's Too Late". They will be at the Bowery on October 8.
RADIO INACTIVE: Speaking of long chart hikes, as Imagine Dragons' multi-format hit, "Radioactive" maintains it's top 3 national chart position, it finally, in it's 34th week cracks the top 60 for the first time. It's obviously very popular, and that has been reflected on my chart as stubborn as my support would be.
DAUGHTER PRU: The top debut this week is "Dear Prudence", by Rachel Allyn. Her album, Do It Yourself has been out for a while, and she continues to play mostly venues down the shore this summer and well as opening up at a local gig for a superstar act (she's opening for Travis Tritt in October). Since to my knowledge there hasn't been official "singles" release from her album, I have been plucking them on my own. Both the title track and "October" have made my top 10. For a third track I have decided on the Beatles' legendary "white album" cover. In spite of her country music stance, she is also affluent in rock and this song, while paying homage to the Fab Four's original, Rachel makes it all her own. I thought this would be a nice change of pace for her, and thus it debuts at #71, and only significant entry this week.
Scenes'n'Soundwaves 100
July 28, 2013|
This Week
|
Last Week
|
ARTIST-Title
|
Weeks on List
|
|
1
|
1
|
NUMBER ONE:
PAUL CZEKAJ
"At the Beach"
(Single only)
(4 Weeks at #1)
|
7
|
|
2
|
2
|
Foxygen - San Francisco
|
15
|
|
3
|
4
|
Phoenix - Trying to Be Cool
|
8
|
|
4
|
3
|
Omnia Hegazy - Aziza
|
11
|
|
5
|
6
|
Cayucas - High School Lover
|
9
|
|
6
|
8
|
The Thermals - I Go Alone
|
8
|
|
7
|
10
|
Wild Belle - Keep You
|
21
|
|
8
|
5
|
New Politics - Harlem
|
22
|
|
9
|
9
|
Portugal. the Man - Evil Friends
|
11
|
|
10
|
11
|
Lana Del Rey - Young and Beautiful
|
9
|
|
11
|
7
|
Daft Punk f. Pharrell Williams - Get Lucky
|
14
|
|
12
|
13
|
Yeah Yeah Yeahs- Under the Earth
|
7
|
|
13
|
12
|
Kurt Vile - Waking on A Pretty Day
|
10
|
|
14
|
14
|
Neko Case - Man
|
7
|
|
15
|
16
|
KT Tunstall- Feel It All
|
8
|
|
16
|
19
|
Matchbox Twenty - Our Song
|
11
|
|
17
|
33
|
TOP 20 IMPACT OF THE WEEK:
LANA DEL REY
"Summertime Sadness"
Album: Born to Die
|
3
|
|
18
|
20
|
I Am Dynamite - Hey Girl
|
7
|
|
19
|
15
|
Fitz and the Tantrums - Out of My League
|
24
|
|
20
|
22
|
Train - Bruises
|
5
|
|
21
|
25
|
Paramore - Still Into You
|
5
|
|
22
|
24
|
Case Studies - Everything
|
7
|
|
23
|
26
|
Sara Bareilles - Brave
|
8
|
|
24
|
31
|
Dan Croll - From Nowhere
|
16
|
|
25
|
37
|
Portugal. The Man - Purple Yellow Red & Blue
|
5
|
|
26
|
17
|
Matthew Koma - Parachute
|
15
|
|
27
|
21
|
Golden Void - Shady Grove
|
20
|
|
28
|
18
|
Calvin Harris f. Florence Welch - Sweet Nothing
|
17
|
|
29
|
29
|
Candice Glover - I Am Beautiful
|
9
|
|
30
|
40
|
Palma Violets - Best of Friends
|
6
|
|
31
|
23
|
Rihanna - Stay
|
14
|
|
32
|
28
|
Dirty Beaches - I Dream In Neon
|
10
|
|
33
|
39
|
ZZ Ward - 365 Days
|
6
|
|
34
|
45
|
Silversun Pickups - Dots and Dashes
|
4
|
|
35
|
30
|
Yeah Yeah Yeahs - Sacrilege
|
23
|
|
36
|
52
|
Bruno Mars - Treasure
|
3
|
|
37
|
32
|
The Veils - Through the Deep Dark Wood
|
17
|
|
38
|
48
|
Foxygen - No Destruction
|
3
|
|
39
|
59
|
Pixies - Bagboy
|
2
|
|
40
|
34
|
Lana Del Rey - Ride
|
25
|
|
41
|
27
|
Rachel Allyn -October
|
14
|
|
42
|
35
|
Hanson - Get the Girl Back
|
17
|
|
43
|
38
|
Waaves - Demon to Lean On
|
10
|
|
44
|
43
|
Atlas Genius - If So
|
7
|
|
45
|
47
|
Jay Arner - Don't Remind Me
|
14
|
|
46
|
36
|
Mayer Hawthorne - Her Favorite Song
|
7
|
|
47
|
44
|
Little Green Cars - Harper Lee
|
8
|
|
48
|
49
|
Maroon 5 - Love Somebody
|
9
|
|
49
|
79
|
MOVER OF THE WEEK:
ROBIN THICKE featuring T.I. and Pharrell Williams
"Blurred Lines"
Album: Blurred Lines
|
2
|
|
50
|
55
|
fun. - Why Am I The One
|
4
|
|
51
|
51
|
Michael Franti and Spearhead - I'm Alive
|
11
|
|
52
|
54
|
Swedish House Mafia f. John Martin - Don't You Worry Child
|
11
|
|
53
|
41
|
Alicia Keys - Girl on Fire
|
18
|
|
54
|
53
|
Pepper - Fkarnd
|
7
|
|
55
|
56
|
Mumford and Sons - Babel
|
8
|
|
56
|
73
|
Pink f. Lily Allen - True Love
|
2
|
|
57
|
42
|
Serena Ryder - Stompa
|
20
|
|
58
|
58
|
Grouplove - Ways to Go
|
5
|
|
59
|
63
|
Imagine Dragons - Radioactive
|
34
|
|
60
|
62
|
Tame Impala - Elephant
|
6
|
|
61
|
50
|
Paul Czekaj - Even Better Than Before
|
16
|
|
62
|
64
|
Smallpools - Dreaming
|
4
|
|
63
|
68
|
Blake Shelton - Boys 'Round Here
|
4
|
|
64
|
70
|
Foals - My Number
|
4
|
|
65
|
46
|
Plain White T's - Should've Gone to Bed
|
9
|
|
66
|
67
|
The Neighborhood - Afraid
|
6
|
|
67
|
57
|
The Black Angels - Don't Play With Guns
|
11
|
|
68
|
78
|
Civil Wars - The One That Got Away
|
3
|
|
69
|
61
|
Phillip Phillips - Gone Gone Gone
|
24
|
|
70
|
72
|
Calvin Harris f. Ellie Goulding - I Need Your Love
|
3
|
|
71
|
83
|
Franz Ferdinand - Right Action
|
2
|
|
72
|
60
|
Alabama Shakes - Hang Loose
|
18
|
|
73
|
----
|
TOP DEBUT:
RACHEL ALLYN
"Dear Prudence"
Album: Do It Yourself
|
1
|
|
74
|
71
|
Florida Georgia Line - Cruise
|
4
|
|
75
|
77
|
Darius Rucker - Wagon Wheel
|
4
|
|
76
|
82
|
Volbeat - The Hangman's Body Count
|
3
|
|
77
|
85
|
Pearl Jam - Mind Your Manners
|
2
|
|
78
|
81
|
Anna Kendrick - Cups
|
4
|
|
79
|
65
|
Churchill - The War Within
|
11
|
|
80
|
69
|
Ben Howard - Keep Your Head Up
|
9
|
|
81
|
76
|
Nine Inch Nails - Came Back Wanted
|
4
|
|
82
|
66
|
Delta Rae - If I Loved You
|
8
|
|
83
|
92
|
Alt-J - Breezblocks
|
2
|
|
84
|
74
|
MS MR - Hurricane
|
9
|
|
85
|
75
|
Crystal Fighters - You and I
|
11
|
|
86
|
95
|
The Lumineers - Submaries
|
2
|
|
87
|
----
|
Terraplane Sun - Get Me Golden
|
1
|
|
88
|
84
|
Jamie N Commons - Rumble & Sway
|
11
|
|
89
|
80
|
Pink f. Nate Ruess - Just Give Me A Reason
|
21
|
|
90
|
94
|
Ariana Grande - The Way
|
3
|
|
91
|
96
|
Passenger - Let Her Go
|
2
|
|
92
|
----
|
Kings of Leon - Supersoaker
|
1
|
|
93
|
----
|
The Unlikely Candidates - Follow My Feet
|
1
|
|
94
|
99
|
Gentleman Hall - Sail Into the Sun
|
2
|
|
95
|
----
|
Mona - Goons (Baby I Need It All)
|
1
|
|
96
|
87
|
Local Natives - Heavy Feet
|
20
|
|
97
|
----
|
The Natural - Demons
|
1
|
|
98
|
86
|
The Satelliters - Gonna Get Away
|
17
|
|
99
|
----
|
On and On - The Hunter
|
1
|
|
100
|
93
|
Palma Violets - Last of the Summer Wine
|
18
|
TREMORS:
101. Jack Johnson, I Got You
102. The 1975, Chocolate
103. The Lone Bellow, Bleeding Out
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