Category Archives: Show Review

R5 & MAX Rock NYC’s Beacon Theatre On “Sometime Last Night” Tour

February 29, 2016 secretfangirls Leave a comment

R5’s “Sometime Last Night” Tour with special guest MAX hit the Beacon Theatre in NYC on Saturday night for a sold out show. It was one of those concerts where you could feel the energy and excitement from the crowd from the moment you walked in the door. Fans were decked out in homemade shirts and glow bracelets and singing R5 songs before they even took the stage. In other words, it was just our kind of concert.

MAX got the show off to a rocking start. His onstage energy and stage presence is off the charts. It was our first time seeing him and he easily became one of the best performers we’ve seen live. MAX showed off his impressive dance moves (including jumping into the splits) and his serious vocal range. If you’ve listened to his music before and wondered “but can he hit that note live?” The answer is yes, yes he can. He also showed the crowd he could rap, taking over Hoodie Allen’s verse in his hit “Gibberish.” MAX had just announced the release of his debut album, “Hell’s Kitchen Angel,” and played his new single “Holla,” a song best described as 🔥🔥🔥🔥. We’re sure he won over quite a few new fans and are hoping MAX will be back in NYC soon on a headlining tour!

MAX Setlist
Puppeteer
Holla
Wrong
Apologize/Sorry (cover)
Streets of Gold
Gibberish
Mugshot

R5’s set rocked the Beacon Theatre – literally. The entire house was dancing and jumping so hard we could feel the balcony shaking! Fans of all ages were singing and dancing to their fun pop-rock sound. We even caught quite a few parents rocking out! Their set included many of the tracks from their sophomore album “Sometime Last Night.”

R5’s new single is called “Dark Side,” and at times it seemed the band wanted to show just that, beyond their Disney beginnings. They certainly know how to rock and put on a good show.

The sold out show was streamed live on Periscope for fans that couldn’t attend thanks to a GoPro camera that the band members took turns wearing.

R5 Setlist
New Sensation
Dark Side
All Night
Easy Love
Wild Hearts
Heart Made Up On You
I Know You Got Away
Doctor Doctor
Cali Girls
Always
Repeating Days
Lightning Strikes
Feel Good
Let’s Go Crazy
I Want U Bad
Did You Have Your Fun?
Loud
All These Things That I’ve Done (cover)
Smile

Check out the rest of the dates for the “Sometime Last Night” Tour here! Pickup a copy of R5’s latest album on iTunes now!

Be sure to follow R5, MAX & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Country Music, Music, On Tour, Show Review

Kacey Musgraves’ Country & Western Rhinestone Review Sparkles In New Jersey

February 22, 2016 secretfangirls Leave a comment

She may not be pageant material but Kacey Musgraves was certainly the star of her “Country & Western Rhinestone Review” when it hit Starland Ballroom in New Jersey over the weekend. The show sparkled from start to finish. The shimmery pink curtains decorating the stage, her band’s light-up pink suits, and Kacey’s silvery dress certainly helped set the scene. Kacey played most of the tracks from her new album, “Pageant Material,” to a sold out crowd. She thanked everyone for coming out, noting that despite her lack of radio airplay (which she hopes will change), fans still managed to pack Starland Ballroom through word of mouth and finding music on their own.

The energetic crowd knew every word to Kacey’s song and sang along throughout the night. Kacey explained how she came up with the song “Dime Store Cowgirl” – before a performance when she was 12 or so, a woman told her that her cowboy hat made her look like a “dime store cowgirl.” She told the crowd she had no idea what it meant at the time but thought it was pretty awesome that years later she wrote a song about it and had a sold out crowd that knew all the words.

We love Kacey’s band, who play everything from steel guitar to the upright bass. When introducing them affectionately as the “runner ups,” Kacey started the “talent portion” of the evening and each member got to show off their skills, from juggling to balloon animal making.

Kacey threw a few covers into her set, including “Mama’s Broken Heart,” which Kacey co-wrote but ended up being recorded by Miranda Lambert. She told the crowd she “fangirled out hard” when Disney asked her to do a version of a song of her choice for an album. She chose “A Spoonful of Sugar,” which she performed in the most delightful way.

Opening act The Cactus Blossoms made us feel like we were back at a concert in the 1950s – from their vintage country sound to their throwback look – perfectly set against Kacey’s pink stage.

Setlist:
Pageant Material
Biscuits
Silver Lining
This Town
Step Off
I Miss You
Fine
Dime Store Cowgirl
Family is Family
The Trailer Song
A Spoonful of Sugar
It Is What It Is
Merry Go Round
High Time
Mama’s Broken Heart
No Scrubs
Late To The Party
Die Fun
Follow Your Arrow
These Boots Are Made For Walkin’
Happy Trails

Check out all of Kacey’s upcoming tour dates here and pickup a copy of “Pageant Material” on iTunes now!

Be sure to follow Kacey Musgraves & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Album Release, Music, Show Review

The Vamps Throw “Wake Up” Release Party In NYC

December 18, 2015 secretfangirls Leave a comment

The Vamps played one final show for the year at Webster Hall in NYC, in celebration of the release of their sophomore album, “Wake Up.” The show was one big party from start to finish, as Brad, James, Connor and Tristan played tracks from the new album along with their hit singles. The energetic crowd knew every word and shouted and danced along with the band all night.

Near the middle of the set, the band announced they were going to do something “they’d never done before” as Brad moved from the stage to a box in the middle of the crowd. He then played a solo, acoustic, unplugged rendition of “Shout It Out.” It turned into a nice, intimate singalong for everyone.

It’s hard to believe The Vamps first headlining show (ever!) was in NYC nearly 2 years ago. They’ve come a long way since then as a band – they’ve sold out the O2 Arena in London, gone on full arena tours around the world all while still remaining their silly selves and good friends.

The Vamps are fun to watch live because of the incredible energy they bring to every show. They added in new instrumental parts to songs that displayed their musicianship and ability to keep their show fresh every night. The guys even rearranged their hit song “Last Night” into a rousing and fun filled ska song that had the entire audience on their feet.

Near the end of their set, the band took time to do a Q&A with the audience answering all their fans’ burning questions from what’s their favorite pizza topping (Con likes chicken) to what song means the most to them (Brad said “Coming Home”).

Setlist
Rest Your Love
Somebody To You
Cheater
Last Night
Shout About It
Be With You
Sorry (Justin Bieber cover)
I Found A Girl
Wild Heart
Can We Dance
Wake Up

Pickup a copy of “Wake Up” on iTunes or Amazon now! Also, might we suggest a “Merry Trismas” sweatshirt for the fangirl in your life?

Be sure to follow The Vamps & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Country Music, Music, Show Review

Cole Swindell’s Down Home Tour Kicks Off In NYC

November 12, 2015 secretfangirls Leave a comment

Cole Swindell’s second “Down Home” Tour kicked off last night at the Playstation Theater in NYC. Cole’s tour was the second country tour in as many weeks to have the first show in New York, and with good reason. (Thomas Rhett and Brett Eldredge’s “Suits and Boots” Tour hit Terminal 5) The country fans in NYC are crazy, passionate and excited about the music. The whole venue was singing and dancing all night long, even to the house music. Cole is the first country artist to headline the Monster Energy Outbreak Tour (alumni include Macklemore, Iggy Azalea, and Wale)

The crowd’s energy was off the charts for the first night of tour and Cole was just as hype, making sure to give attention to the fans in the balconies, in the pit, and all the way to the fans in the back row of the venue! He encouraged fans to “get up” on each others shoulders, while many in the crowd were busy doing 12-ounce curls. Let’s get weird, y’all!

It was one of those shows where you found yourself going “YES! THIS IS MY JAM!” for pretty much every song in the set. Cole has had 4 #1 hits from his debut album and counting, the latest being his single “Let Me See Ya Girl.” (OUR #1 JAM). Cole got his start working as a songwriter in Nashville and he’s written hits for Luke Bryan, Florida Georgia Line, Thomas Rhett & more.

The tour was in support of Cole’s “Down Home Sessions II” EP, which was released last week. Cole played every track off the EP, and, judging from the crowd’s reaction, even more jams to add to your playlist. The tour also gave Cole the opportunity to get up close and personal with his fans, after spending most of the year in stadiums opening for Luke Bryan and Jason Aldean. Cole has definitely picked up some on stage pointers from Luke!

Of course, it wouldn’t be a country show without a some “USA! USA!” chants, which were especially fitting for the Veterans Day show. Cole’s hit “Ain’t Worth The Whiskey” was also the perfect song to end the night, as Cole told the audience he’d been “waiting to sing this song all day.” With Cole waving an American flag sourced from the front row, the entire crowd sang the last chorus for the troops. Cheers to a good country song!

Setlist:
Down Home Boys
Hey Y’all
The Way You’re Lovin’ Me Now
Brought To You By Beer
Get Up
Hope You Get Lonely Tonight
Roller Coaster
Shuttin’ It Down
Dangerous After Dark
Blue Lights
Let Me See Ya Girl
Kiss
Ready
Get Me Some Of That
Beer In The Headlights
First Radio
Chillin’ It
This Is How We Roll
Ain’t Worth The Whiskey

Be sure to pickup a copy of the “Down Home Sessions II” EP on iTunes now, grab your down home crew and get to one of Cole’s upcoming shows!

Be sure to follow Cole Swindell & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Boys We Like, Country Music, Music, On Tour, Show Review, Thomas Rhett

Thomas Rhett & Brett Eldredge Kick Off The “Suits and Boots” Tour in NYC

October 31, 2015 secretfangirls Leave a comment

Thomas Rhett & Brett Eldredge kicked off the Suits and Boots Tour in style last night, with a sold out show at NYC’s Terminal 5. The duo are the latest artists to headline CMT On Tour, which showcases the best rising talents in country music. To make it a true co-headlining tour, Thomas & Brett will flip a coin each night of tour to decide who goes on first. Thomas won the toss and elected to open.

If we had to sum up a Thomas Rhett concert in one word, it would be FUN! Thomas does his best to make sure that each and every person in the room is having the time of their lives and feels like they are a part of the show. Whether he is shaking his south side or showing his softer side, Thomas is great at connecting with the audience.

With his new album, Thomas is bringing lots of soul and funk into country music. The title track from his new album, “Tangled,” moved seamlessly into a cover of “Uptown Funk.” Tracks like “Anthem” and “Vacation” made it impossible not to start dancing along with him. We think TR says it best himself: “This is the beat that puts the fire in your feet gives you the license to be a little crazy.” The energy in the room was off the charts by the time Thomas left the stage.

Thomas Rhett Setlist
Anthem
South Side
Makes Me Wanna
Tangled
Uptown Funk
It Goes Like This
Vacation
Die A Happy Man
T-Shirt
Playing With Fire (with Danielle Bradbery)
Get Me Some of That
Crash and Burn

After a set change, Brett Eldredge emerged, launching right into his hit “Beat of the Music,” rocking a shimmery blue suit. The “Suits & Boots Tour” is an interesting dynamic: Brett’s style is more of a smooth crooner, in contrast with Thomas’ funky vibes. An epic singalong occurred to his #1 hit “Mean To Me.” We’re talking dudes up on each others shoulders epic.

Brett later explained that he wanted to make music that people could dance to, laugh to, cry to before launching into “Wanna Be That Song.”

Brett Eldredge Setlist
Beat of the Music
Fire
Time Well Spent
Mean To Me
Tell Me Where To Park
Drunk On Your Love
Lose My Mind
Going Away For A While
Wanna Be That Song
Don’t Ya
Shadow

Both Brett and Thomas returned to the stage for the encore, pouring each other celebratory drinks. “Thomas Rhett gives Brett Eldredge Advice Time” was one of the highlights of the show, as they launched into a medley of cover songs related to Brett’s girl problems. We loved seeing the two interact and show their unique personalities.

“Gold Digger” re-worked as an acoustic country song was something we didn’t know we needed until now. Thomas instructed Brett to work on his dance moves, as he launched into “Whip/ Nae Nae.” Thomas Rhett doing the stanky leg is one of the greatest things we have ever seen. The duo ended the night with their track “You Can’t Stop Me,” from Brett’s new album “Illinois.”

Rhett & Brett Setlist
Gold Digger
Neon Moon
The Way You Look Tonight
Hotline Bling
Whip Nae Nae
Drag Me Down
Real Good Man
You Can’t Stop Me

Opening act Danielle Bradbery’s set highlighted her powerful voice and gave her a chance to show off some new tunes she’s been working on. “Shot of Whiskey” got the night off to an energetic start. Danielle later joined Thomas on stage for a duet to “Play With Fire,” which Thomas sings with Jordin Sparks on his album.

If you have a chance to make it out to the “Suits And Boots” Tour, GO! Check out all of the upcoming tour dates HERE!

Country Music, Hunter Hayes, Music, Show Review

Hunter Hayes “21 Tour” Stops at West Point, NY

October 26, 2015 secretfangirls Leave a comment

Hunter Hayes chose the stops for his current headlining tour, the “21 Tour,” by selecting venues in college towns where his music was popular on Spotify streaming. Hunter is all about connecting with his audience, and for this tour he wanted to have a more intimate show and to play in front of some of his most passionate fans. His plan worked. The “21 Tour” stopped at Eisenhower Hall in West Point, NY over the weekend, and it was by far the craziest crowd we have ever witnessed at a Hunter Hayes show!

The packed house was full of energy from the moment Hunter walked out on stage, singing and dancing along to every song. By the second song of the night, girls were up on cadet’s shoulders and rocking out. Hunter’s epic guitar solo during “Secret Love” even inspired a little crowd surfing, something we never expected to see at a Hunter Hayes show! (And we loved it.)

Hunter is one of our favorite artists to see live because of the emphasis he puts on his live show. Of the (many) times we have seen him, we have never heard him play the same song the same way twice. He likes to mix it up, adding extended solos and new vocal stylings, or just jamming with his band. He played material from the upcoming “The 21 Project,” along with some old favorites including “Where We Left Off,” which he dedicated to the troops.

Hunter has shown lots of support for the military over the years, and took the time to thank and acknowledge the crowd, explaining what an honor it was for him to play at West Point. And the love went both ways. A spirited group of cadets in the front row gave Hunter & his band their hats to wear for a memorable moment on stage.

https://instagram.com/p/9PwuiCQqPM

Hunter’s band got some much deserved love as well – after the crowd started chanting “dreads,” bass player Matt Utterback had his moment in the spotlight.

We have to thank Hunter for always mixing things up. This was definitely one of the most memorable shows we’ve ever been to, from the beautiful & historic location to the insanely awesome crowd and of course the talented Mr. Hayes. We can’t wait to see what he has in store next!

Setlist – Eisenhower Hall – October 24th 2015
Tattoo
Storm Warning
Storyline
Young And In Love
I Mean You
Somebody’s Heartbreak
Suitcase
Everybody’s Got Somebody But Me
Saint Or A Sinner
Secret Love
Where We Left Off
Invisible
Wanted
21
Light Me Up
Shut Up And Dance (Cover)
I Want Crazy
Encore:
Rainy Season
Love Makes Me

Visit HunterHayes.com to check upcoming tour dates and to pre-order a copy of “The 21 Project!”

Be sure to follow Hunter Hayes & Secret Fangirls for more updates!

Jonas Brothers, Music, Show Review

DNCE Celebrate The Release of “SWAAY” EP at Knitting Factory

October 26, 2015 secretfangirls Leave a comment

DNCE celebrated the release of their first EP, “SWAAY,” with an intimate show at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn. Although the EP had been out for less than 24 hours by the time of the show, the crowd seemed to know every word to tracks like “Toothbrush” and “Jinx.” The room was packed early for a surprise secret DJ set by a masked DJ, rumored to have been Joe Jonas.

DNCE put on a very energetic show with all member sharing mikes, rotating around the stage and engaging the crowd in any way possible. After seeing Joe Jonas on tour in such large scale arena shows with the Jonas Brothers, his onstage energy and charisma work just as well in small club show settings. We love the dynamic between the group – bass player/keyboardist Cole Whittle is so much fun to watch, guitarist Jin Joo Lee really knows how to shred, and of course flawless Jack Lawless rounds up the group on drums. DNCE write fun, catchy, upbeat songs that make up want to, well, DANCE!

Setlist
Pay My Rent
Toothbrush
Naked
Hotline Bling
Good Day
Jinx
Waterfalls/California
Cake By The Ocean

Pickup a copy of the “SWAAY” EP on iTunes now and check out all of DNCE’s upcoming tour dates!

Be sure to follow DNCE & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!

Country Music, Dan+Shay, Music, On Tour, Show Review

Dan + Shay’s “Just The Right Kind Of Crazy” Tour Hits Long Island

October 13, 2015 secretfangirls Leave a comment

Dan + Shay’s “Just The Right Kind Of Crazy” Tour stopped at Emporium in Patchogue, NY over the weekend. It’s the perfect name for a tour that blends the right amount of their signature pop country harmonies and crazy on stage energy!

Opening act Kelsea Ballerini infused lots of rock and roll energy into her pop-country sound. Her 45 minute set included tracks from her debut album “The First Time,” including singles “Dibs” and “Love Me Like You Mean It.” A highlight of her set was a 90s medley that included songs from *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys and Britney Spears, encouraging everyone in the crowd to dance their craziest (or in our case, break out our boyband choreography).

Speaking of boy bands, Dan + Shay took us all back to middle school dance days with an outstanding cover of Boyz II Men’s “I’ll Make Love To You,” complete with disco ball lighting. The song highlighted Shay’s powerful voice and made us wonder what other 90s boy band jams we’d like to have them cover (answer: any and all of them, please.) Their set also included some classic rock covers, from Def Leppard to Bon Jovi, and an energetic mashup of “Dynamite” and “Moves Like Jagger.”

We love watching Dan + Shay perform because of the passion and energy they bring to each show. You can tell they are having a blast on stage and the excitement is infectious. The packed house was singing and moving along to every word. The duo are also great at interacting with the crowd, pointing out and singing along with fans, even stopping to take a rose from a man in the audience without missing a note.

Their set included nearly every song from their debut album, “Where It All Began.” Dan + Shay mentioned they have been busy working on new music, and played fan favorite “Partner In Crime.” We can’t wait for more music from our favorite duo!

Dan + Shay Setlist
Somewhere Only We Know
Nothin’ Like You
Stop Drop + Roll
Parking Brake
Anyway You Want It (Cover)
Show You Off
Pour Some Sugar On Me/Bad Blood (Cover)
What You Do To Me
I’ll Make Love To You (Cover)
Partner In Crime
You Give Love A Bad Name (Cover)
Party Girl
First Time Feeling
Can’t Say No
I Heard Goodbye
Dynamite/Moves Like Jagger (Cover)
19 You + Me

Visit DanAndShay.com for all upcoming tour dates!

Be sure to follow Dan + Shay & Secret Fangirls for more updates.

Boys We Like, Music, Show Review

Nathan Sykes Makes US Solo Debut With Sold Out Gramercy Theatre Show

July 23, 2015 secretfangirls 1 Comment

Nathan Sykes made his solo US debut with a sold out show at Gramercy Theatre in New York City last night. Nathan made a name for himself as the youngest and arguably the strongest vocalist in the British boyband, The Wanted which has since disbanded. After a few minor set backs like vocal surgery, Nathan is ready to take over the pop world! He’s armed with a velvety smooth voice and a classic sound that even your parents will love. And trust us, the man can SING.

A few hours before the show started, Nathan had tweeted that he was feeling under the weather and he wasn’t sure if he could even make the show. But he pulled through and sounded incredible! Nathan still hit every note and gave 110% into his performance. You never know what to expect from a debut show where the crowd doesn’t know all the songs, but Nathan had the house dancing from start to finish. In between songs, Nathan announced his debut solo album will be released in January 2016 in the United States. We can’t wait to hear recorded versions of our favorite songs from last night like “Twist,” “Freedom,” and “Money.”

Nathan Sykes at Gramercy Theatre NYC July 22nd, 2015

It was a fitting place for Nathan to launch his solo career. The Wanted played a show at Gramercy Theatre that was “where it all began,” for the band, as Nathan mentioned during the show. After last night, we’re sure that this is also the start of something new and exciting and we can’t wait to be along for the ride! We love Nathan’s 60s rat pack style and sound, and the fact that he plays with a full, 8 piece band, including a horn section. Oh, and did we mention Nathan can DANCE? It’s always a question mark whether or not a boyband member can go solo, but we just might have another JT.

Nathan Sykes at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre July 22nd, 2015
Intro
Twist
Freedom
Earned It (cover)
Over And Over Again
Famous
More Than You’ll Ever Know
Money
Kiss Me Quick

Be sure to pick up a copy of “Kiss Me Quick” on iTunes or Amazon.

Follow Nathan Sykes & Secret Fangirls on Twitter.

Boys We Like, Jake Miller, Music, On Tour, Show Review

Jake Miller’s Dazed and Confused Tour Hits NYC

July 10, 2015 secretfangirls Leave a comment

You know you’re in for a good night when a show kicks off with a blast of confetti! Jake Miller kept the energy level high from start to finish at the second stop of the Dazed and Confused Tour at the Best Buy Theater in NYC last night. The concert was one big dance party, led by Jake and his DJ.

Jake surprised everyone by dropping an EP the day of the tour kickoff. The “Rumors” EP had been out approximately 44 hours by the time of Jake’s NYC show, but that didn’t stop the crowd from knowing every single word to the new tracks. He played nearly the entire EP: “Rumors,” “Shake It,” “Selfish Girls,” and “Yellow Lights” were all highlights of his set.

Jake took time to interact with fans in the crowd, asking how long people had been in line (11 hours for one, and overnight for another in the front row!) Of course, when Jake called out some fans to say “hey, what’s your name?” he had to do it twice so they could take a video.

Other highlights of the set included a cover of “Uptown Funk,” which Jake turned into a club remix (like we said, one big dance party). One of the most touching moments of the set was Jake’s performance of “A Million Lives,” which he said would be many fans’ favorite moment of the show. The song perfectly captures the relationship between an artist and fan, and the power of music.

Jake even invited a lucky fan on stage to rap with him during his encore of “Dazed and Confused.” Watch the video below!

Setlist
Lion Heart
Hollywood
First Flight Home
Rumors
High Life
Uptown Funk (cover)
Party in the Penthouse
Selfish Girls / Cover Medley
Glow
There Is No One Like Me
Yellow Lights
A Million Lives
Ghost
Shake It
I’m Alright
Day Without Your Love
Collide
Dazed and Confused

Pickup a copy of the “Rumors” EP on iTunes and check out all of Jake’s upcoming tour dates HERE!

Be sure to follow Jake Miller and Secret Fangirls for more updates!

We are all fangirls at heart.