We’ve been eagerly awaiting Jake Miller’s video for his new single “Dazed and Confused” – especially since he revealed that Austin Mahone would be in it! Two baes in one video? MMM Yeah, this is what fangirl dreams are made of! Guest vocalist Travie McCoy is also featured in the video. Jake also annouced plans for a huge Summer tour with the same name! The “Dazed and Confused” Tour will kick off in July at Starland Ballroom, with openers Alex Angelo and Jasmine V.
Watch the official “Dazed And Confused” video now and be sure to check out all the tour dates below. Tickets go on sale April 10th!
Jake Miller’s “Dazed and Confused” Tour Dates
July 8 – Starland Ballroom – Sayreville, NJ
July 9 – Best Buy Theater – New York, NY
July 11 – House of Blues – Boston, MA
July 14 – Toad’s Place – New Haven, CT
July 15 – Chameleon Club – Lancaster, PA
July 17 – 9:30 Club – Washington, DC
July 18 – TLA – Philadelphia, PA
July 19 – Altar Bar – Pittsburgh, PA
July 21 – Bogart’s – Cincinnati, OH
July 22 – Amos’ Southend – Charlotte, NC
July 24 – Beacham Theater – Orlando, FL
July 26 – Freebird Live – Jacksonville Beach, FL
July 28 – The Loft – Atlanta, GA
July 31 – Crofoot Ballroom – Pontiac, MI
August 1 – House of Blues – Cleveland, OH
August 3 – The Rave – Milwaukee, WI
August 4 – House of Blues – Chicago, IL
August 5 – Record Bar – Kansas City, MO
August 8 – Crescent Ballroom – Phoenix, AZ
August 9 – House of Blues – San Diego, CA
August 10 – Slim’s – San Francisco, CA
August 11 – El Rey – Los Angeles, CA
August 13 – House of Blues – Anaheim, CA
Get your tickets and start counting down to your Summer date with Jake!
Pickup a copy of “Dazed and Confused” off of Jake’s “Lion Heart” EP on iTunes now!
Taylor Swift wrote an outstanding piece in the Wall Street Journal over the summer about the future of music, where she wrote that “people are only buying [albums] that hit them like an arrow through the heart or have made them feel strong or allowed them to feel like they really aren’t alone in feeling so alone.” We couldn’t have said it better ourselves. Here are the albums in 2014 that hit us like an arrow through the heart.
1. Dan + Shay – “Where It All Began”
It’s rare and special to find an album where you listen to each and every song, and can sing along to from start to finish. This album was by far our most played of the year, and the soundtrack to our 2014. We’ll be able to look back at this year as “where it all began” for Dan + Shay, who have a very, very bright future ahead of them. We can’t wait to see what’s next for the talented duo, starting with their 2nd major headlining tour in 2015.
2. Sam Hunt – “Montevallo”
We were lucky to have downloaded a copy of the “Behind The Pines” mixtape before Sam exploded over the summer with the release of his hit single “Leave The Night On.” He released his full length debut, “Montevallo,” in October, opening at the top of the country charts, and third overall. Sam’s unique style makes us excited about music. His blend of a 90s R&B sound with country storytelling blends perfectly with Sam’s southern drawl, deep voice, and spoken lyrics. He’ll be selling out arenas one day.
3. Hunter Hayes – “Storyline”
A sophomore album is always tricky, especially when your debut was nominated for a Grammy and countless other awards. But Hunter managed to knock it out of the park. The album is a more collaborative effort than his first, on which he played every single instrument. Hunter’s music grabs you from the first listen. We love how Hunter brings this album to life on tour, with unique arrangements for each song. He’s the rare musician who makes his live show a full experience that stays with you long after the show.
4. The Strypes – “Snapshot”
“Snapshot” is another debut album that immediately got our attention and made us wonder where The Strypes had been all our lives. Evidently they’d been honing their skills at pubs across their native Ireland, where they learned to play loud, fast aggressive, and just damn good old fashioned rhythm and blues. And they’re all still in their teens. There are no filler songs on the album – it’s solid from start to finish. If you ever have the opportunity to see The Strypes live, don’t miss it. Seeing the album come to life on stage was one of our favorite moments of the year.
5. Austin Mahone – “Secret”
Technically this is an EP, but at 8 tracks, it’s *almost* an album. We fell for Austin’s sound with tracks like “What About Love” and “Banga Banga,” but this EP, with it’s 90s pop influences, cemented Austin’s status as the one man boyband. We’re obsessed with the Britney and *NSYNC-esque slow breakdown in the title track, “Secret,” and couldn’t stop listening to “Next To You” on repeat for days. Austin’s working on his much awaited full length debut with the legendary Max Martin (who wrote basically every great 90s pop song you can think of), and we can’t wait for more!
6. Jesse McCartney – “In Technicolor”
Possibly the most underrated album on this list. His newest single, “Punch Drunk Recreation,” is a pop masterpiece. Armed with a Justin Timberlake sound, and retro look, JMAC outdid himself with this album. “In Technicolor” is one of those albums that will always be in style.
7. Nick & Knight – “Nick & Knight”
We admit that we’ll probably love anything that involves our favorite boybands – especially when two of our favorite members team up. But Nick Carter and Jordan Knight’s album is a fun R&B/pop album worth checking out.
8. 5SOS – “5SOS”
It’s a safe bet that 5SOS are going to be extremely monumental in bringing pop punk back to a radio station near you! We’ve had the band’s debut album on heavy rotation, and we don’t think we’ll stop playing it any time soon. Also, can people please stop referring to them as a “boyband?” These guys have the heart, drive, and sound to be restore Warped Tour to the glory days of 2006.
9. The Vamps – “Meet The Vamps” While we had to wait for this album to be officially released in the United States, it was worth the wait! The Vamps have an acoustic pop sound that makes you want to dance around your living room singing at the top of your lungs.
10. Walk The Moon – “Talking Is Hard”
With it’s December release, Walk The Moon’s sophomore album “Talking Is Hard” barely made our list. The Ohio band celebrated by live tweeting with fans the first listen of the album, divulging secrets like “there’s a mess up in this part of the song” to “the weird lyrics are from this member!” Walk The Moon are taking the album on a full headlining tour in the spring. It’s not too late to hop on the dance jam bandwagon.
Austin Mahone has been busy working on his much anticipated debut album (seriously, he has a book out – but not a full album!) While we (impatiently) wait for it, Austin wanted to give us some new music in the meantime “as a thank you for supporting everything I do.” He wrote the track with pal Robert Villanueva in Miami. We love Austin for his 90s pop-influenced sound, but this track is more of a throwback to classic 90s R&B. Check it out and download for free below!
We definitely shattered our record for most concerts attended in a single year in 2014. While we loved each and every show, and it was nearly impossible to narrow it down to 5 favorites, here are the ones that stood out.
1. Hunter Hayes – 24 Hour Road Race – Palace Theatre – Stamford, CT
We ended up seeing Hunter more than any other artist this year – 7 times in total. Impressive, considering on his past tours he came nowhere near NYC so we had no hopes of attending. Hunter, if you’re reading this, please keep coming to New York. We love you. Of all the shows, among them the We Are Not Invisible Tour, Tattoo (Your Name) Tour, Arthur Ashe Kids Day, and so on, the most memorable was definitely the 24 Hour Road Race. True, it was a short concert, but the record-breaking goal gave an added level of excitement, and now we can officially say we were part a Guinness World Record. Oh, but we can’t forget that time he performed “Storm Warning” right in front of us…
2. Austin Mahone – MTV Artist To Watch Tour – Hammerstein Ballroom – New York, NY
We also had a hard time deciding which Austin show to pick, but this show wins since it was Austin’s first big headlining tour. This show earned him his nickname of the “one man boyband,” due to his on point choreography. We don’t have many videos of Austin performing, because it’s literally impossible to not dance along, but we managed to get one at his Mets Post-game concert later in the year.
3. Dan + Shay – Where It All Began Tour – Highline Ballroom – New York, NY
“Where It All Began” is hands down our favorite album of 2014. While we saw Dan + Shay for the first time on the We Are Not Invisible Tour with Hunter Hayes, this was our first time seeing them play with a full band. We were blown away by how passionate and talented they are, and how much they genuinely love performing. Dan + Shay are so much fun to see live (seriously, the entire audience sings every word), and they make it special every time we see them. We can’t wait for their next headlining tour in 2015!
4. 5SOS – Stars, Stripes & Maple Syrup Tour – Best Buy Theater – New York, NY This might get the prize for one of the hottest concerts of 2014. We were shocked when we scored a pair of tickets to this show! It had been such a long time since we went to a “pop punk” show that this finally made us remember why we fell in love. 5SOS have such great energy and they put on an incredible show to the sold out crowd. Calum, Luke, Ashton, and Michael owned the stage and had everyone singing along to every word, even though the band had yet to release their album in the US.
5. The Strypes – Music Hall of Williamsburg – Brooklyn, NY
Whenever we write about The Strypes, we feel like nothing can do justice to how insanely talented and incredible these guys are. All four members hail from Ireland and are under the age of 20, yet they play some serious rhythm and blues. We had never really seen grown men fangirl until this concert. That’s how good these guys are. We were floored by their musicianship, and some absolutely insane harmonica solos.
Bonus: 106.1 BLI’s Summer Jam – Nikon Jones Beach Theater – Wantagh, NY
This gets the runner up place because of it’s awesome lineup: Austin Mahone, Cody Simpson, New Hollow, Midnight Red, AJR, and so on. Summer Jam definitely had something for everyone! The number of acts and the variety contributed to the “festival” feeling of this show, along with bonding with the people sitting around you for the entire day. We hope Summer Jam will be back next year!
We’re less than three weeks away from Christmas and while we’re still deciding which boyband member we want to find under our tree this year, we’ve created a list of our favorite presents to give this holiday season. These gift ideas are perfect for the fangirl in your life – even if you gift them to yourself!!
1. Books!
Books are a great keepsake and a fun way to learn even more about your favorite band. 5SOS and Austin Mahone both have new books out, just in time for the Holidays! For the 90s fangirl, we highly recommend “Out Of Sync” by Lance Bass and “NKOTB: 5 Brothers And A Million Sisters.”
2. Band Merch!
Crewneck sweatshirts, and Holiday themed sweaters are especially trendy this year. We love the “Merry Trismas” sweatshirt from The Vamps, and this onesie from Hunter Hayes. A gift that’s in the Holiday spirit, perfectly cheesy, shows off your favorite band, AND keeps you warm? Perfect.
3. Concert Tickets!
You can never go wrong with concert tickets! It just might take some advance planning and sneaking around. Check to see which tours have been announced (Dan + Shay’s 2015 headlining tour goes on sale this week!) and try to be stealth about getting tickets so it’s a surprise. Plus you’ll get an extra gift by the time the concert rolls around!
4. Ear plugs!
When you go to as many shows as we do, ear plugs are essential. We know, you think they look un-cool. You know what’s even less cool? Not being able to hear. Invest in a good reusable pair – they’re more discreet and are designed especially to filter music so you’ll be able to hear everything AND look cool. Promise.
5. Music!
Lots of artists release special editions around the Holidays. We love the “LiveSOS” Bundle that 5SOS put together – it includes posters from each of their 2014 tours.
Austin the one-man-boyband Mahone just announced he is going on a tour to support the release of his book, “Austin Mahone: Just How It Happened.” He’ll be in New York, Chicago and San Antonio signing copies of the book. Check with your local bookstore for more details on the event, and what you’ll need to do to meet Austin!
Austin Mahone Book Tour
December 9th: Barnes & Noble – New York, NY
December 10th: Anderson’s Bookshop – Naperville, IL
December 11th: Sam’s Club – San Antonio, TX
You can pre-order a copy of the book now at Barnes and Noble – the perfect gift for any Mahomie in your life.
One of our favorite Thanksgiving traditions is the release of People’s Sexiest Man Alive issue. It’s the perfect reading material for your car/plane/train/bus ride home. We can’t help but feel like this year’s list is a little bit lacking. Here’s who we would include if we could takeover People for a day. (sidenote: if you haven’t seen the episode of “Don’t Trust The B” where James Van Der Beek receives the sexiest man honor, do yourself a favor and watch it now).
1. Sam Hunt
This up and coming country singer was recruited for the NFL but decided music was his true calling. And thank god because Sam Hunt’s deep voice and his thick Georgia drawl are part of his charm. He’s a talented singer and songwriter, with a unique sound incorporated his wide range of influences. Oh, and his rapping skills are on point too. Grab a copy of Sam Hunt’s debut album “Montevallo” on iTunes or Amazon now so you can sing along on the “Lipstick Grafitti” Tour.
2.Austin Mahone The one man boyband is basically all of your favorite boyband members in one. He’s currently in the studio working with Max Martin on his debut full length album. We’re hoping it will capture more of that 90s pop sound we heard on “The Secret” EP. Since Martin is responsible for “I Want It That Way,” “Baby One More Time, and “It’s Gonna Be Me,” among countless others, we’re sure it will. Make sure to pickup a copy of the new Teen Vogue for some beautiful wall-worthy photos.
3.Jake Miller
Florida born singer/rapper Jake Miller definitely qualifies as “sexy” – have you seen his muscles? Any guy who can make a goofy face and still look good is definitely a keeper! Jake is also very good about interacting with his fans on Twitter. Be sure to pick up a copy of Jake Miller’s new EP “Lion Heart” on iTunes or Amazon now!
4.Grigor Dimitrov
HEART EYES EMOJI all day because not only is Grigor one of the hottest young tennis stars (just look at that backhand!), he also is very sweet to his fans – he even stopped a match to help a ball girl who fainted (probably at the sight of him). Grigor also appreciates the finer things in art like art, custom designer travel bags, and puppies!! Make sure to follow him on Instagram.
5.Ryan Lewis Ryan Lewis is just a beautiful man. Not only is he a talented producer/DJ, he’s also been using his popularity for a good cause and launched the charity The 30/30 Project to help aid those impacted by HIV/AIDs. Lewis is definitely the lesser known member of the Grammy winning duo (Macklemore & Ryan Lewis if you’re totally clueless), as spoofed on The Tonight Show with Jimmy Fallon. That definitely would not have been our reaction to spotting Ryan Lewis in the park.
The New York Mets couldn’t have picked a better night for the final show of their concert series. It was a perfect late September night that kicked off with hundreds of young dance and cheer squads from the tri-state area doing a fun routine to songs by Demi Lovato and Ariana Grande. Dance Cheer Night meant there were significantly more teenage girls than usual in the stadium – oh, and the fact that Austin Mahone was performing after the game! Between the cheerleaders and the fangirls in attendance, it’s safe to say that it was one of the loudest crowds Citi Field has ever seen (especially whenever Austin Mahone showed up on the big screen).
After the game (which the Mets ended up winning 2-1 in the 9th!), a stage was quickly rolled out behind 2nd base for the concert, which started just after 10:30pm. Austin performed a 12-song set, including an acoustic section that showcased his vocals and guitar playing. And we all know he can dance! The one man boy band showed off his smooth choreography to hits like “Banga Banga” and his latest, “Secret,” which sounds like a 2014 update of a 90s Backstreet Boys song (and is the Secret Fangirls theme song). Austin even invited 1 lucky fan on stage to serenade during “U.” We always knew he was a great dancer, but this was the first time we got to see his choreography up close, and we were majorly impressed.
Austin Mahone Mets Concert Series Set List
1. “Banga Banga”
2. “Say You’re Just A Friend”
3. “Shawty Shawty”
4. “Shadow”
5. “Human Nature”
6. “All Of Me”
7. “Secret”
8. “Till I Find You”
9. “U”
10. “All I Ever Need”
11. “What About Love”
12. “MMM Yeah”
We can’t wait to see who the Mets will have in the lineup for the 2015 concert series! Besides Austin, recent shows have included Boyz II Men and Third Eye Blind. It’s a fun way to see your favorite artist, and to spend a perfect summer evening with some baseball, music and BBQ (or Shake Shack, or a burger…the food options at Citi Field are endless).
Be sure to follow Austin Mahone & Secret Fangirls for more updates! Check back early next year for the 2015 Mets Concert Series lineup!
Austin “the one-man-boy-band” Mahone just released the video for “Secret,” off his debut EP “The Secret.” In case you missed Austin on tour this summer, or want to re-live it, the video gives a peek at Austin’s live show. Which means tons of energy, smooth choreography, a tank top, and lots of fangirls. Watch it below!
“Secret” is one of our favorite Austin tracks – we love the 90s vibe of the song, complete with a slow breakdown and a hint of Britney Spears’ “Stronger.” And Austin totally knows what he’s doing: as he recently told Billboard about the EP, “the style I was going for was more of that *NSYNC, Backstreet Boys vibe, ’cause I knew a lot of the older girls like that.” Excellent plan, Austin.
Mahomies in NYC can see Austin this weekend in a performance following the New York Mets game on Saturday, September 27th! Get more info here. In October, Austin will be heading down to South America for a few shows, then heading to Miami to work on his album. We can’t wait. (Keep up the *NSYNC & Backstreet Boys vibes, please!)
The Vamps are certainly on a roll lately with the release of their collaborations with Demi Lovato and Shawn Mendes. Fresh off the Austin Mahone tour in the US, the British indie pop band just announced a spring headlining UK arena tour! Special guests, Union J will support the tour with more opening acts to be announced soon. Tickets go on sale Saturday 18 October so be sure to grab them early before they sell out! Check out the dates below.
The Vamps 2015 UK Arena Tour April 18th – The SSE Hydro – Glasgow – Buy Tickets
April 20th – Odyssey Arena – Belfast – Buy Tickets
April 22nd – 3 Arena – Dublin – Buy Tickets
April 24th – Motor Point Arena – Sheffield – Buy Tickets
April 25th – Phones 4U Arena – Manchester – Buy Tickets
April 28th – Echo Arena – Liverpool – Buy Tickets
May 2th – The O2 Arena – London – Buy Tickets
May 4th – Metro Radio Arena – Newcastle – Buy Tickets
May 5th – Capital FM Arena – Nottingham – Buy Tickets
May 8th – LG Arena – Birmingham – Buy Tickets
Watch The Vamps and Shawn Mendes in the official “Oh Cecilia (Breaking My Heart)” music video below.
Pick up a copy of The Vamps debut album “Meet The Vamps” on iTunes now! Grab the “Oh Cecilia” single bundle now to get the exclusive new song “Hurricane.”
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