Tag Archives: Artist to Watch

Artist to Watch, Music

Artist To Watch: Jack Skuller

1 Comment

When we heard about a young singer being compared to Buddy Holly, we knew we had to check him out.  18-year-old New York native Jack Skuller is being hailed as both “a mini Jack White” and a “modern day Buddy Holly,” and is a gifted singer-songwriter who is skilled on both guitar and harmonica.  We love his classic rockabilly sound.  Listen below!

Jack Skuller has racked up quite the impressive resume so far, which includes releasing an acclaimed 7″ at the tender age of 14, produced by Daniel Ray on Bar/None Records.  He also went on a 14-city tour around the United States backed by Radio Disney,  and won the 2014 Holly Prize from the Songwriter’s Hall Of Fame, as a tribute to Buddy Holly.

His new singles, “Can You See Me” and “Hard To Want” were co-written with Chris Dell’Olio (of the Tall Pines) and produced by GRAMMY-nominated Joel Hamilton (The Black Keys, Pretty Lights, and Tom Waits).   Jack Skuller has certainly gotten the industry stamp of approval, proving that he’s got the chops to bring rock and roll back for good.  (Does anyone else miss good old fashioned guitar on the radio, or is it just us?)  And who doesn’t love a harmonica solo?  We could totally see Jack touring with The Strypes.

You can see Jack Skuller in NYC at The Bowery Electric on November 8th in NYC.  Click HERE for tickets and show information.

Be sure to follow Jack Skuller and Secret Fangirls on Twitter for more updates!

Artist to Watch, Music, On Tour

Walk The Moon Announce New Album and Fall Tour

2 Comments

Ohio pop rock four piece Walk The Moon announced their brand new album coming out “late 2014” and a new tour trekking around the United States this fall called “SHUT UP AND TOUR 2014.”  The band, best known for singles such as “Tightrope” and “Anna Sun,” are back with new music and they’re ready to make you sing and dance along once more.   For your first shot at presale tickets to the “SHUT UP AND TOUR” shows, pre-order the new album HERE!  Act fast because you only have until Wednesday night to get your unique pre-sale code with every pre-order.  Pre-sales will begin Thursday 9/11 at 10am local time.

Check out all of the  “SHUT UP AND TOUR 2014” dates below.

Oct 8th – The Crocodile – Seattle, WA – Buy Tickets
Oct 9th – Wonder Ballroom – Portland, OR – Buy Tickets
Oct 11th – Larimer Lounge – Denver, CO – Buy Tickets
Oct 13th – Slim’s – San Francisco, CA – Buy Tickets  *No Presale
Oct 15th – The Echo – Los Angeles, CA – Buy Tickets
Oct 16th – KROQ Presents @ San Manuel Casino – Highland, CA – Buy Tickets  * No Presale
Oct 17th – University of Minnesota – Minneapolis, MN – Buy Tickets  *No Presale
Oct 18th – Marathon Music Work – Nashville, TN – Buy Tickets  *No Presale
Oct 21st – The Basement – Columbus, OH – Buy Tickets
Oct 22nd – The Ready Room – St. Louis, MO – Buy Tickets
Oct 23rd – The Record Bar – Kansas City, MO – Buy Tickets
Oct 25th – Trees – Dallas, TX – Buy Tickets
Oct 26th – The Parish – Austin, TX – Buy Tickets
Oct 28th – Terminal West @ King Plow Arts Center – Atlanta, GA – Buy Tickets
Oct 29th – Visulite Theater – Charlotte, NC – Buy Tickets
Oct 30th – Ottobar – Baltimore, MD – Buy Tickets
Nov 1st – The Sinclair – Cambridge, MA – Buy Tickets
Nov 2nd – Bowery Ballroom – New York, NY – Buy Tickets
Nov 4th – U Street Music Hall – Washington, D.C. – Buy Tickets
Nov 5th – Underground Arts – Philadelphia, PA – Buy Tickets

Listen to the new single “SHUT UP AND DANCE” now!

Don’t forget to tune into Late Night With Seth on NBC on Sept 15th to watch Walk The Moon perform their new single “SHUT UP AND DANCE.”

Grab a copy of Walk The Moon’s debut self titled album on iTunes, Amazon so you can sing along at the shows!

Follow Walk The Moon and Secret Fangirls on Twitter to stay up to date with your favorite artists.

Artist to Watch, Music

Jackson Guthy Announces New Band “North Of Nine”

Leave a comment

Fangirl favorite Jackson Guthy is back, and this time he’s got a new band with him.  The band is called North Of Nine and they hit the ground running with a brand new song “We Ride.” Listen to the track below.

Jackson is one of our all time favorite opening acts (we caught him a few times on tour with Big Time Rush, Victoria Justice, and 5SOS), and we are thrilled to have new music from him!  “Pretty Lady” is our JAM.

North Of Nine are also planning a surprise acoustic show in NYC this week.  Stay tuned to find out where and when!

Follow North Of Nine and Secret Fangirls on Twitter to stay up to date with all your favorite new artists.

Artist to Watch, Music

Artist To Watch: Derik Fein

Leave a comment

It’s still early in Derik Fein‘s journey into the pop music world and he’s already crushing it!  The Miami, FL native recently performed on NBC,  has a loyal following of over 260,000 “Feiners” on Twitter, and his newest single “Funeral of Hearts” has been enjoying some serious success lately.  Derik blends some unique influences creating incredibly catchy Jason Mraz meets Adam Levine pop music.  The acoustic guitar driven “Funeral Of Hearts” showcases Derik’s guitar work and ability to craft an unforgettable song.  We found ourselves singing along by the end!

Watch the official video for “Funeral of Hearts” below.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=lkDimv40Q8k

You can catch Derik on tour this summer, check out the dates below!  Pickup a copy of “Funeral of Hearts” on iTunes now!

Derik Fein Summer 2014 Tour Dates
July 19th – Bamboo Gardens – Vincentown, NJ – Buy Tickets
July 20th – Wells Fargo Center – Philadelphia, PA – Buy Tickets
Aug 1st – Six Flags Great Adventure – Jackson, NJ – Buy Tickets
Aug 2nd – Inferno Limits – Newark, NJ – Buy Tickets

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

Artist to Watch, Cody Simpson, Music, On Tour

Artist To Watch: Jackson Harris

Leave a comment

It’s been quite an exciting year for singer Jackson Harris!  Since releasing his debut EP, “Sharks and Vampires” in Feburary, Jackson has opened for artists like Fifth Harmony and Before You Exit, and is currently on tour with Cody Simpson in Europe.  Growing up in NYC, Jackson always knew he wanted to be a musician.  He immersed himself in music, listening to everyone from James Taylor to his sister’s Backstreet Boys albums, and friends’ Fall Out Boy albums.   Fitting right in with today’s DIY pop music trend, Jackson taught himself to play guitar by watching videos of John Mayer on Youtube, and posting his own covers of artists like Taylor Swift and Imagine Dragons.  (de rigueur for pop stars these days!)

Jackson has a versatile sound, and you can hear the range of influences in his songs.  Watch the video for his single “Life Through a Lens” below!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_Fp5XrPva2o

European Tour Dates with Cody Simpson
July 4th – Bord Gais Energy Theatre – Dublin, Ireland
July 5th – Academy 2 – Manchester, England
July 6th – Library – Birmingham, England
July 8th – La Maroquinerie – Paris, France
July 11th – Bikini – Barcelona, Spain
July 12th – Shoko Live – Madrid, Spain
July 14th – Armazem F TMN Ao Vivo – Lisbon, Portugal

He’ll be back in New York for a show on August 12th with Mike Tompkins at the Studio at Webster Hall.   Tickets are on sale now! Pickup a copy of the “Sharks and Vampires” EP on iTunes or Amazon!

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

Artist to Watch, Music, Secret Fangirls

Artist to Watch: Tiffany Houghton

1 Comment

We love the pop-country sound of rising singer-songwriter Tiffany Houghton, who was just added to MKTO’s American Dream Tour lineup!  Tiffany has that fresh “early Taylor Swift” sound that we’ve been searching for.  Armed with an acoustic guitar and girl-next-door charm, Tiffany’s catchy, well-crafted songs will have you singing along before the first chorus.  Tiffany moved to Nashville at the age of 17, and has spent time songwriting and honing her craft.  We’re sure you’ll be hearing a lot more from this girl in the future!

Watch the video for her new single, “17 Again,” below, which was inspired by one of our favorite movies,”Breakfast at Tiffany’s.”

Tiffany teamed up with ConcertBlogger.com for a performance of “Band Boy,” which she wrote about her weakness for boys in bands after getting home from a concert one night.  This song is pretty much every fangirl’s anthem.  We especially love the line “fangirls love band boys and band boys love fan girls!”

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

Artist to Watch, Boys We Like, Music, Show Review, The Vamps

MTV Artist to Watch: The Vamps at Highline Ballroom in NYC!

1 Comment

British band The Vamps (yes band, NOT a boy band) played to a sold out crowd at NYC’s Highline Ballroom on Sunday.  The show was part of the MTV Artist to Watch Series, which has recently featured artists such as Austin Mahone and Hunter Hayes.   We were thrilled to have the chance to see them again!   This wasn’t their first time playing in NYC:  Back in February, they played the Gramercy Theatre with AJR.  Since then, The Vamps released their debut album “Meet The Vamps,” which has been as high as #2 on the charts in the UK, and have been all over the world in support of their album.

IMG_2390
The quartet, Bradley Simpson (lead vocals, guitar), James McVey (lead guitar), Connor Ball (bass) and Tristan Evans (drums) really mesh well together considering they found each other via social media about 3 years ago!  Each member has their own unique style and musical taste (James for example is a fan of country stars like Dan + Shay), yet the music The Vamps create is pure, catchy pop rock at its best.  The band’s musicianship, harmonies, and talent show that  this group is more than just another band creating a frenzy among teenage girls.

IMG_2384
Their high energy performance had the crowd dancing from start to finish!  The Vamps’ set featured all of their singles, including the latest “Somebody To You,” and the first song the band ever wrote together, “She Was The One.”  The crowd was singing along to every word, which is impressive for a band whose album hasn’t even been released in the US yet!    They have a great stage presence, interacting with each other and also with the lucky fans in the front row!

IMG_2395

The Vamps also performed solid covers of The Killers’ “Mr. Brightside,” Simon and Garfunkel’s “Cecilia,” and a fun, rock version of Jason Derulo’s “Trumpet.”   When the crowd started chanting “take it off,” Tristan turned it into a jam session showcasing all of their musical talents, as Brad told the audience “let’s make some music together!”   If you haven’t met The Vamps yet, get ready:  they are most definitely the Artist to Watch in 2014!

Setlist:
Wild Heart
Last Night
Somebody To You
She Was The One
Mr. Brightside (cover)
Girls on TV
Trumpets (cover)
Can We Dance
Cecilia (cover)

Watch our video of The Vamps performing “Somebody To You” and check out our Youtube & Tumblr for more photos & video from the show!

 

If you’re in NYC, you can meet The Vamps and catch an acoustic set at Planet Hollywood tonight!  If not, be sure to tune into their livestream at 6PM today…they’ll be making a big announcement you don’t want to miss! 

The Vamps will be touring the US with Austin Mahone all summer long!  Check out the dates here and get a copy of “Wild Heart” on iTunes!

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

Artist to Watch, Friday Five, Music

The Friday Five: New Bands That Rock

Leave a comment

In the past, we’ve brought you new bands from across the pond, our favorite boy bands, and even our top favorite country artists. This week, we want to formally introduce you to five bands that rock!  All of these artists have a knack for writing a catchy rock song, with their own unique sound.

1 – Born Cages
We’ve featured this Brooklyn based band before and we’ve been lucky enough to see them play more than a few times. As we near the release of their next single, please enjoy one of our favorite songs from “The Sidelines EP“.

2 – New Hollow
This Ohio trio has worked their way into our playlists ever since the 106.1 BLI Summer Jam a few weekends ago. Catchy, grungy, perfect summer throwback sound – New Hollow has it all! Don’t miss these guys on tour this summer. Watch the official video for their single, “She Ain’t You” below.

3 – Action Item
Hailing from New Jersey, Action Item aren’t technically new, but that doesn’t stop them from rocking their way onto our Friday Five list! These guys are dropping a new single called “We’ll Be Fine” on June 24th and we can’t wait to hear what they’ve been up to. They’ll be on tour with MKTO all summer so be there or be square!

4 – The Strypes
The only band on this list from the UK, The Strypes are definitely ones to watch.  After a chance encounter with their name in an ad in Rolling Stone , we checked out their music and instantly knew these guys were on to something.  We love The Strypes cheeky lyrics on their debut album “Snapshot” and it’s about time the US has another proper British rock invasion!  Watch the official video for “What A Shame” below.

5 – Wild Party
One of the five finalists in this years iHeartRadio and Macy’s Rising Star Competition, Wild Party is definitely on the up and up. Their single “When I Get Older” sounds like Rooney and Phantom Planet – just what we need to blast in our car with the windows down and the sunroof open! Catch Wild Party at a free in-store performance at Macy’s in Northridge, CA on June 21st.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mxeD-nYoEiw

 

Be sure to follow Born Cages, New Hollow, The Strypes, Action Item, Wild Party, and Secret Fangirls on Twitter for the latest on your favorite new artists!

 

90s, Artist to Watch, Music

Artist to Watch: New Hollow

Leave a comment

We’ve been loving the resurgence of all things 90s, and Ohio-based pop rock band New Hollow clearly got the memo! These guys are bulldozing their way into the hearts of  America with their grunge rock throwback sound.

We caught New Hollow’s set at the 106.1 BLI Summer Jam last weekend at Jones Beach and they won us over immediately with their cover of “Rebel, Rebel”.  Their single, “She Ain’t You” harkens back to the alt-rock grunge days. They had us singing along by the end of the song and we’ve caught ourselves on more than one occasion humming it around the Secret Fangirls office! Hopefully they’ll come back and play in New York soon.

The band, made up of high school friends Evan West (19), Mookie Clouse (19), and Chad Blashford (18), recently signed with Epic Records – home to Karmin, Fifth Harmony, and The Fray!
New Hollow have been in the studio writing with Blues Traveler – how cool is that!?  We can’t wait for their album to come out!

Watch the official video for New Hollow’s “She Ain’t You” below!

Pick up a copy of “She Ain’t You” on iTunes and Amazon now.

Catch New Hollow live this summer!
June 6th – Shops at Mercato – Naples, FL – Details Here 
June 17th – TBD – Cupertino, CA – iTunes Showcase
June 26th – Canton Palace Theater – Canton, OH – Buy Tickets 
August 9th – Starlight Theater – Kansas City, MO – Buy Tickets
August 16th – Fraze Pavillion – Kettering, OH – Buy Tickets
August 29th – Fashion Meets Music Festival – Columbus, OH – Buy Tickets
October 16th – TBD – Cincinnati, OH – Coming Soon

Be sure to follow New Hollow and Secret Fangirls on Twitter for the latest on your favorite artists!

Boys We Like, Music, On Tour, The Vamps

The Vamps Headlining Show in NYC June 15th!

2 Comments

Just in!  The Vamps are coming back to America, with a headlining show at NYC’s Highline Ballroom on June 15th!

Update:  New tickets were released June 3rd – use the access code CANWEDANCE or WILDHEART & get tickets here!

Tickets go on sale this Thursday, May 15th at 12pm!

BnoQAeGIIAI0ci2

The show is part of the MTV Artist to Watch series, and is The Vamps second headlining show in NYC.  They played back in February with AJR at Gramercy Theater!

Not in NYC?  You can catch The Vamps on tour this summer with Austin Mahone!  Check out the dates here.

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