Tag Archives: AJR

AJR, Austin Mahone, Cody Simpson, Dan+Shay, Friday Five, Hunter Hayes

The Friday Five: Songs of the Summer

May 2, 2014 secretfangirls 2 Comments

It’s only the second day of May, but after a brutal winter in NYC we’ve been dreaming of summer for weeks! We can’t wait for outdoor concerts and trips to the beach, or in the event of Summer Jam and any shows at Nikon Jones Beach Theater – both! Here are the songs we are loving right now, our soundtrack to the Summer of 2014. All of these artists are on tour this summer, so check them out!

1. Dan + Shay – “Show You Off“
The country duo’s debut album is the perfect summer soundtrack. It makes us want to drive around with the windows down, sipping sweet tea with the wind blowing in our hair. “Show You Off,” Dan+Shay’s second single, is catchy and refreshing like a cool drink of water in the summer, better than the other side of the pillow. Check out all of their upcoming tour dates!

2. AJR – “I’m Ready“
We’ve had “I’m Ready” on repeat for months now, but AJR’s single is climbing the charts and is sure to be one of the biggest hits of the summer! Their debut album, which brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met wrote, produced and recorded in their living room, is expected to be released late Summer. You can catch them on tour at several radio festivals and opening for Lindsey Stirling this summer! Watch our interview with AJR here!

3. Austin Mahone – “Till I Find You“
This is possibly the best summer ever for Mahomies! Austin’s debut album, “The Secret,” is being released May 27th, followed by appearances at Summer Jam and a headlining tour with The Vamps! He’ll also help kick off the Today Show Toyota Summer Concert Series on Memorial Day!

4. Cody Simpson – “Surfboard”
There are some artists we always associate with summer, and Cody is one of them! We first saw him opening for Big Time Rush at Jones Beach on their 2012 tour. His laid back surfer vibe is perfect for his new single, “Surfboard.” He’ll be at Summer Jam and is heading out on a European tour shortly after. Stay tuned for the dates!

5. Hunter Hayes – “You Think You Know Somebody”
We’re constantly impressed by the multi-talented Hunter Hayes. In case you’re still inclined to refer to him as “the country Justin Bieber,” just check out his guitar solos in this live performance of “You Think You Know Somebody!” He is by far one of our favorite acts to see live, and we could not be more excited for his new album, “Storyline,” out next week! If you have the opportunity to see him live, go! He takes every song to the next level. P.S. Hunter if you’re reading this, play a show in NYC – we love country, too!

Follow Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more on your favorite artists!

AJR, Boys We Like, Interviews, Music

SecretFangirls.com Interview With AJR!

April 24, 2014 secretfangirls Leave a comment

We had the chance to sit down with Adam, Jack and Ryan Met of AJR before their headlining show in Philadelphia last week. The guys shared everything from their pre-concert rituals to which artist they’d “fangirl” over if they met.

Their single “I’m Ready” has been climbing the charts, and is sure to be one of the biggest hits of the summer! You can catch AJR at radio festivals across the US, and on tour with Lindsey Stirling this summer. Check out all the dates here and be sure to get a copy of the “I’m Ready” EP before the show so you can sing along!

In the meantime, watch our interview below and get to know more about Adam, Jack and Ryan!

Follow AJR and Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!

AJR, Boys We Like, Music, On Tour

AJR Summer 2014 Tour Dates!

April 16, 2014 secretfangirls 2 Comments

Are you ready for AJR? The band, comprised of brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met, has quickly gained momentum since their single “I’m Ready” was released last fall. The video recently passed 1 million views on Youtube! The song has since entered radio rotation around the country, and doesn’t look like it’s slowing down any time soon. It’s impossible to hear this song and not clap along!

The brothers stopped by Saturday Night Online over the weekend to officially premiere the single and to answer a few fan questions. When we heard “I’m Ready” on the radio for the first time last week, we had a total That Thing You Do moment! (Shout out to 106.1 BLI for the AJR love!)

AJR will be playing the 106.1 BLI Summer Jam with artists like Austin Mahone, Jason Derulo, and Cody Simpson on June 1st at Nikon Jones Beach Theatre, as well as a few other radio shows around the country. You can also see AJR opening for Lindsey Stirling on her summer tour! Check out all the dates below!

AJR Summer 2014 Tour Dates

May 17th: Rixton – The Basement in Columbus, OH – Buy Tickets
May 18th: 103.7 The Q’s Just Show Up Show – The Tin Roof in Birmingham, AL – More Info
May 20th: K945 I’m Ready for Crazy Stupid Killer Summer Kickoff – Red River District in Shreveport, LA – More Info
May 24th – Lake Palestine Palooza – Flint, TX – More Info
June 1st: 106.1 BLI Summer Jam at Nikon Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, NY – Buy Tickets
June 3rd: 98PXY Summer Jam at Frontier Field in Rochester, NY – Buy Tickets
June 5th – Hot 107.9 Presents AJR – Destiny USA – Syracuse, NY – More Info
June 6th: KIIS 98.5 Buffalo Kiss The Summer Hello – Canalside in Buffalo, NY – Buy Tickets
June 7th: Fly 92.3 Summer Jam at the Saratoga springs Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY – Buy Tickets
June 8th: K104.7 K Fest at the Dutchess Stadium in Poughkeepsie, NY – Buy Tickets

With Lindsey Stirling
June 16th – Metropolis – Montreal, QC – Buy Tickets
June 17th – House Of Blues – Boston, MA – Buy Tickets
June 18th – Terminal 5 – New York, NY – Buy Tickets
June 20th – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ – Buy Tickets
June 21st – The Space at Westbury – Westbury, NY – Buy Tickets
June 23rd – Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA – Buy Tickets
June 24th – Echo Stage – Washington, DC – Buy Tickets
June 26th – The NorVa – Norfolk, VA – Buy Tickets
June 27th – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC – Buy Tickets
June 28th – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN – Buy Tickets
June 30th – Track 29 – Chattanooga, TN – Buy Tickets
July 1st – Masquerade Music Park – Atlanta, GA – Buy Tickets
July 2nd – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL – Buy Tickets
July 3rd – Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL – Buy Tickets
July 5th – Sunset Cove Amphitheatre – Boca Raton, FL – Buy Tickets
July 7th – Iron City – Birmingham, AL – Buy Tickets
July 8th – House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA – Buy Tickets
July 10th – Bayou Music Center – Houston, TX – Buy Tickets
July 11th – Stubb’s BBQ – Austin, TX – Buy Tickets
July 12th – South Side Ballroom – Dallas, TX – Buy Tickets

September 6th-7th – LouFest – Forest Park – St Louis, MO – Buy Tickets

Can’t wait for summer? You can see AJR in Philadelphia this Saturday, April 19th, at World Cafe Live, and in Los Angeles on Tuesday, April 22nd. Get your tickets now!

Be sure to follow AJR & Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates! Pickup a copy of the “I’m Ready” EP on iTunes or Amazon!

AJR, Boys We Like, Music, On Tour

AJR Announce Partnership with Warner Brothers Records & Summer Tour Dates

April 3, 2014 secretfangirls 2 Comments

NYC-based indie pop band AJR took to social media to share a letter with their fans announcing that their self-made label, AJR Productions, has entered into a partnership with Warner Brothers Records. The unique arrangement will allow for the band to retain full creative control over their music, photos, videos, merchandise, etc, but ultimately allow for greater distribution. Read the full letter below:

We’re looking forward to see what this year has in store for AJR! Brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met have done an incredible job thus far of gaining support on their own, and this new partnership will definitely take the band to the next level. One of the things we admire about AJR is that their music has only been touched by their hands: from songwriting to producing and recording. We love that they promise to still write and record from their living room, and can’t wait to hear even more of their “folky-electronic-doowop-indie-pop music.”

Their single, “I’m Ready,” has been gaining a lot of radio play nationwide, and the video recently hit 1 Million views on Youtube! Check it out below! (It’s a serious case of life imitating art).

AJR will be playing several radio festivals this summer, joining artists like Austin Mahone, Jason Derulo, Cody Simpson and Karmin. Check out the dates below!

AJR Summer Radio Tour Dates:
June 1st: BLI Summer Jam at Nikon Jones Beach Theatre in Wantagh, NY – Buy Tickets
June 3rd: 98PXY Summer Jam at Frontier Field in Rochester, NY – Buy Tickets
June 6th: KISS 98.5 Buffalo Kiss the Summer Hello – Canalside in Buffalo, NY – Buy Tickets
June 7th: Fly 92.3 Summer Jam at the Saratoga Springs Performing Arts Center in Saratoga Springs, NY – Buy Tickets
June 8th: K104.7 K Fest at the Dutchess Stadium in Poughkeepsie, NY – Buy Tickets

AJR will also be opening for Lindsey Stirling this summer, check out the dates below!

June 16th – Metropolis – Montreal, QC – Buy Tickets
June 17th – House Of Blues – Boston, MA – Buy Tickets
June 18th – Terminal 5 – New York, NY – Buy Tickets
June 20th – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ – Buy Tickets
June 21st – The Space at Westbury – Westbury, NY – Buy Tickets
June 23rd – Electric Factory – Philadelphia, PA – Buy Tickets
June 24th – Echo Stage – Washington, DC – Buy Tickets
June 26th – The NorVa – Norfolk, VA – Buy Tickets
June 27th – The Fillmore – Charlotte, NC – Buy Tickets
Jun 28th – Ryman Auditorium – Nashville, TN – Buy Tickets
June 30th – Track 29 – Chattanooga, TN – Buy Tickets
July 1st – Masquerade Music Park – Atlanta, GA – Buy Tickets
July 2nd – Jannus Live – St. Petersburg, FL – Buy Tickets
July 3rd – Hard Rock Live – Orlando, FL – Buy Tickets
July 5th – Sunset Cove Amphitheatre – Boca Raton, FL – Buy Tickets
July 7th – Iron City – Birmingham, AL – Buy Tickets
July 8th – House Of Blues – New Orleans, LA – Buy Tickets
July 10th – Bayou Music Center – Houston, TX – Buy Tickets
July 11th – Stubb’s BBQ – Austin, TX – Buy Tickets
July 12th – South Side Ballroom – Dallas, TX – Buy Tickets

Be sure to follow AJR on Twitter, Facebook & Tumblr for more updates! Pickup a copy of their “I’m Ready” EP on iTunes!

AJR, Austin Mahone, Cody Simpson, Midnight Red, Music, On Tour

106.1 BLI Announce the Return of Summer Jam at Jones Beach!

March 31, 2014 secretfangirls 9 Comments

There is nothing better than an outdoor summer concert, especially one at Jones Beach (seriously, what summer venue could be more perfect than one surrounded by water?). We were thrilled this morning when Long Island’s 106.1 announced the return of Summer Jam! While we would have loved to go to Summer Jam back in the late 90s/early 00s, when it was last held, the lineup this year is not to be missed!

The show will be on Sunday, June 1st at Nikon Jones Beach Theatre, and includes many of our 2014 Artists to Watch! Check out the lineup below. Buy your tickets here!

Austin Mahone

Cody Simpson

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fotef2wT9wI

AJR

Midnight Red

Other performers include:
Jason Derulo
Emblem 3
5th Harmony
R5
MKTO
A Great Big World
Karmin
Cash Cash
New Hollow

Tickets go on sale this Saturday, April 5th. Be sure to follow 106.1 on Twitter for the latest info! Visit 106.1BLI for the entire lineup and ticket info.
Follow @SykeAtNight and @BLIDanaJayson for more details!

Feature Photo Source

AJR, Music

Andy Grammer Releases New Single, “Back Home”

March 25, 2014 secretfangirls Leave a comment

From street performing in LA to having a song on the Pitch Perfect soundtrack, Andy Grammer has made some serious strides in his music career lately.

Andy’s new single, “Back Home” is a guaranteed smash! Co-written and co-produced by Ryan Met of AJR, the single shines as an anthem for staying grounded and remembering your hometown roots. The single will be available on iTunes April 8th!

Check out the exclusive article from RyanSeacrest.com and listen to the single below!

Follow Andy Grammer on Twitter for the latest updates and be sure to visit AndyGrammer.com.

AJR, Austin Mahone, Dan+Shay, Friday Five, Hunter Hayes, Music

The Friday Five: Albums We’re Looking Forward To in 2014

March 21, 2014 secretfangirls 4 Comments

It’s Friday and that means it’s time for The Friday Five! This week, we’re picking five upcoming albums that we are totally excited to hear. So, let’s get started!!!

1. AJR – Title and Release Date TBD
AJR’s unique sound makes us excited about music again! The indie pop band, comprised of brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met, are the true definition of an independent, DIY artist. We’ve loved every song we’ve heard from them so far (seriously, it’s impossible to pick a favorite), and can’t wait to hear more! They’re tentatively naming their debut album “Living Room,” as much of the album was written, produced and recorded from their parents’ living room in NYC. The album should be released sometime this Spring. Are you ready?

While you wait for the album, make sure to download their EP 6foot1!

2. Hunter Hayes – “Storyline” (due May 6th)
Hunter is another artist who makes us excited about music again. The multi-talented singer not only wrote or co-wrote every track on his self-titled debut, he also played the 30+ instruments used in the recording. We had the opportunity to attend his “Encore” release concert at Webster Hall last summer, and were blown away by his musicianship. We’re thrilled to finally be seeing Hunter live again on the “We’re Not Invisible Tour,” and for his new album, “Storyline!” And have you heard about how you can be a part of Hunter’s attempt to break the world record for most concerts in 24-hours?

You can pre-order “Storyline” now and get an instant download of the tracks “Invisible” and “Wild Card!”

3. Dan + Shay – “Where It All Began” (due April 1st)
We hadn’t heard of country duo Dan + Shay until they were announced as the opening act on Hunter Hayes’ “We’re Not Invisible Tour,” but it was love at first listen when we heard their single “19 You + Me.” The duo met last year in Nashville, and started writing together the next day. If the rest of their album is anywhere near as good as the tracks they’ve released so far, including “What You Do To Me” and “Show You Off,” we may have our new favorite summer album.

You can pre-order their debut album, “Where It All Began,” now and get an instant download of all 3 tracks!

4. Austin Mahone – Title and Release Date TBD
It’s hard to believe that after releasing so many hit singles, we STILL don’t know when Austin’s debut album will be released. Austin just wrapped up his first headlining tour with MTV, and we’re hoping we’ll have an announcement for a new tour and album before the summer!

Be sure to follow Austin on Twitter for updates and get his latest single, “MMM Yeah” on iTunes!

5. The Vamps – Title TBA (due April 14th in the UK; US Date TBD)
Unfortunately for now there is no US release date for this album, but we are eagerly awaiting the release date! We love The Vamps energetic sound and after a very solid set at their headlining show in NYC, we’re looking forward to hearing more!

While we wait for an official US release date, you can pickup their single Wild Heart on iTunes!

AJR, Boys We Like, Music, On Tour, Show Review

AJR Kicks off Spring Tour with Headlining Show at Gramercy Theatre

March 18, 2014 secretfangirls 1 Comment

Our favorite band of brothers, AJR, kicked off their spring tour with a headlining show at NYC’s Gramercy Theatre on Saturday, March 15th. It’s hard to believe this was only the band’s second headlining show, ever. They played a solid 1-hour set, including a brand new song and some covers that seriously showed off their vocal ranges.

We were first introduced to AJR (brothers Adam, Jack and Ryan Met) at CMJ back in October, when they played a showcase at the Gramercy along with artists like Diane Birch. At the time, there were maybe 30 people in the audience. It’s amazing to see how far they’ve come in just a few short months!

The near-capacity crowd at Gramercy was dancing and singing along to every song, even tracks like “The Green and the Town” and “Married on a Hill,” which haven’t even been officially released by the band. The show also marked the first performance of a new song, “Alice By The Hudson,” which AJR described as “the perfect summer song.” We totally agree, and love the Beach Boys-influence you can hear in this song. They also played favorites off their debut EP, 6foot1, like the ukelele-driven “Growing Old on Bleecker Street” and “After Hours,” which was so much fun to hear live. They followed it up with a cover of Bastille’s “Pompeii” that (as with all of their covers) makes it impossible to go back to the original version because they just do it better!

They even brought back a song from the AJR archives, “3AM,” which was a nice addition to the set and for fans who had been around since they first started adding videos to YouTube a couple of years ago.

As if we weren’t impressed enough already, for their encore AJR sat down on the edge of the stage and beckoned their fans closer. Without microphones, they did a cover of “Wagon Wheel,” which we could hear perfectly from the back. It seemed like a fitting tribute to their days busking in Washington Square Park. They ended the show with their single “I’m Ready,” which had the whole crowd dancing and clapping along.

Having seen them before, we were expecting an incredible show, but we were seriously impressed with this show and how much they’ve stepped up their game. They have a few more dates coming up this Spring, and trust us, you do not want to miss this! At this rate they’ll be selling out arenas this time next year. We’re so excited to see what’s in store for this talented trio! Even more remarkable, AJR are a completely independent, DIY project – they write, produce and record songs in their parents’ living room in NYC and have full creative control. As they say, No Label. Just Fans.

Setlist: (not in order)
The World is a Marble Heart
The Green and the Town
Livin’ On Love
Growing Old on Bleecker Street
Married on a Hill
Everlasting Love/Eternal Light (Cover)
Alice By the Hudson
After Hours
Pompeii (Cover)
3AM
Infinity
Wagon Wheel (Cover)
I’m Ready

Upcoming Shows:
Saturday, March 22nd 2014 : Pittsburgh, PA – Macy’s Prom Event – Mall at Robinson, Main Entrance
Saturday, March 29th 2014 : Boston, MA – Red Room at Cafe 939
Sunday, March 30th 2014 : Montreal, QC Canada – La Sala Rossa
Saturday, April 19th 2014 : Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live

Pick up a copy of AJR’s “I’m Ready EP” on iTunes or Amazon now so you can sing along at their shows!

Be sure to follow AJR on Twitter, Instagram & Facebook for more updates! Check out their official site.

AJR, Boys We Like, Music, On Tour

AJR Announce Spring 2014 Tour Dates!

March 3, 2014 secretfangirls Leave a comment

AJR announced they will be heading out on a few headlining shows across the East Coast & Canada this spring. Check below for dates & ticket info to see if they’ll be in your town (or anywhere you can reach by car/train/plane/etc) and get your tickets now!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3NgjgI3IAh4

AJR HEADLINING TOUR DATES:
Saturday, March 15th 2014 : New York, NY – Gramercy Theatre
Saturday, March 22nd 2014 : Pittsburgh, PA – Macy’s Prom Event – Mall at Robinson, Main Entrance
Saturday, March 29th 2014 : Boston, MA – Red Room at Cafe 939
Sunday, March 30th 2014 : Montreal, QC Canada – La Sala Rossa
Saturday, April 19th 2014 : Philadelphia, PA – World Cafe Live
Tuesday, April 22nd 2014: Los Angeles, CA – Bootleg Bar & Theatre

They will be doing meet & greets at the shows for everyone after the show!

In case you’re new here, here’s what you need to know about AJR:
AJR is a complete DIY project – brothers Adam, Jack & Ryan write and produce all of their own music, and even mix and record songs in their living room. The NYC-based band got their start busking in parks, and has since opened for acts like Hoodie Allen, Demi Lovato, The Wanted, and most recently The Vamps. Their mix of the musical styles of the 50s and 60s, with modern influences, gives them a unique sound. These multi-talented brothers play everything from the ukelele to the melodica on stage, and their energetic live performance is not to be missed.

Make sure you download a copy of the “I’m Ready EP” on iTunes or Amazon before the show! Stay tuned for more dates.

For more on AJR, check out their website, Twitter & Facebook

90s, AJR, Big Time Rush, Boy Bands, Boys We Like, Jonas Brothers, Midnight Red, Music, NKOTB

Show Me the Meaning of Being a Boy Band

March 1, 2014 secretfangirls 9 Comments

It seems like the term “boy band” is being very loosely thrown around these days. Just because a group of young, good-looking men are in a band together, this does NOT make them a boy band. If you go by this rule, then we’d have to call The Strokes and Vampire Weekend boy bands. I think we can universally agree that they are not.

So, what exactly is a “boy band” then? Let’s consult the dictionary!

Boy band (noun): a group of young men who perform popular songs together and dance as a group.

Now compare this to the definition of a band:

Band (noun): a group of musicians who play music together.

See the difference? The biggest being that boy bands DANCE. We’d also add that they tend to dress in matching/similar outfits, and are known for their harmonies.

Just because a group of young, cute guys are in a band, and in many cases being marketed to younger audiences, it does NOT mean they are a boy band. Now, here are some examples.

NKOTB – Boy band!