Alternative Press Music Awards 2017

Cody Carson

So, it's that time of the year again. The APMAs are back! This year's host: Andy Black (or Biersack, which ever name you prefer) I'm sad that Jack and Alex aren't back for the 3rd year in a row, but it's said that they'll be there for a live performance! Other performers include Machine Gun Kelly, ONE OK ROCK, Sleeping with Sirens, and Pierce the Veil. Competition doesn't seem as tough as it did last year. I'm a bit disappointed with the nominees, but I still have my favorites. Nominees are:

Dean Butterworth

Best Vocalist: Ben Barlow- Neck Deep, Cody Carson- Set It Off, Derek DiScanio- State Champs, John O'Callaghan- The Maine, Keith Buckley- Every Time I Die, and Lynn Gunn. My choice for best vocalist is hands-down Cody Carson. That boy has an amazing, unique voice on record and live. I believe he has a strong chance at winning along with Derek and Ben.
Best Drummer: Arejay Hale- Halestorm, Aric Improta- Night Verses, Dean Butterworth- Good Charlotte, Frank Zummo- Sum41, Matt Mingus- Dance Gavin Dance, JP "Rook" Cappellety- MGK. My vote for best drummer went to Dean Butterworth. I honestly think that he's going to take home the trophy. It's Good Charlotte for Pete's sake!
Best Bassist: Alex Dean- Architects U.K., Chris Hinkley- I The Mighty, Fat Mike- NOFX, "Fieldy" Arvizu- Korn, Ryan Scott Graham- State Champs, and Sergio Vega- Deftones. My one and only choice for this is Ryan Scott Graham. I know State Champs has a strong fan army, plus Ryan knows what he's doing and he does it well.

Steve Menoian

Best Guitarist: Ben Weinman- The Dillinger Escape Plan, Claudio Sanchez- Coheed and Cambria, Jordan Buckley- Every Time I Die, Reba Myers- Code Orange, Steve Menoian- I Prevail, and Teppei Teranishi- Thrice. Once again, I felt like there was only one choice: Steve Menoian. I Prevail has such strong guitar riffs and hard melodies.

Paramore

Dedicated Fanbase: Melanie Martinez, Motionless in White, Paramore, PVRIS, Sleeping with Sirens, and TwentyOne Pilots. My vote went to Sleeping with Sirens. However, Paramore has a strong chance of winning. I have no doubt in my mind that they will take that trophy home with them, but I'll have my fingers crossed for Sleeping with Sirens. (Of course TwentyOne Pilots has the odds in their favor, but I'm sick of them winning everything)

With Confidence

Best Underground Band: Broadside, Knocked Loose, Movements, Palaye Royale, Silent Planet, and With Confidence. I can say with confidence that With Confidence is going to win this category. They have made a huge impact on the scene and have been my newest obsession. I wouldn't even consider them underground anymore!
Breakthrough Band: Avatar, Creeper, Ice Nine Kills, Moose Blood, ONE OK ROCK, and Waterparks. My vote went to Moose Blood. My boyfriend's went to Waterparks. I love them both so much. I put money on ONE OK ROCK though. They've been smashing it!

ONE OK ROCK

Best Hard Rock Artist: Bullet for my Valentine, Halestorm, Highly Suspect, In This Moment, Korn, The Pretty Reckless. Bullet for my Valentine got my vote. I'm a little bias towards them since they're one of the only Hard Rock artists I listen to, but they really do posses the talent that this reward is dedicated to.
Best Live Band: Beartooth, Dance Gavin Dance, Falling in Reverse, In This Moment, Issues, NOFX. My vote last year went to Issues. It went to the same place this year. It wouldn't surprise me if Beartooth took it home either.
Best Music Video: Highly Suspect- Bloodfeather, I See Stars- Calm Snow, Korn- Insane, Memphis May Fire- This Light I Hold, State Champs- Losing Myself, Sum41- Fake My Own Death. State Champs won me over, just like they'll win this award. Losing Myself is a great song and has a video to match it.

Voldemort music video

Best New Artist Music Video:  K.Flay- Blood in the Cut, Pup- Sleep in the Heat, SWMRS- Palm Trees, Tiny Moving Parts- Common Cold, Watsky- Don't Be Nice, and With Confidence- Voldemort. Again, With Confidence has my support. Voldemort is so catchy and has a great video for a new artist. I wouldn't be upset if SWMRS won though.
Song of the year: A Day To Remember- Paranoia, Andy Black- We Don't Have to Dance, Pierce the Veil- Circles, MGK- Alpha Omega, Real Friends- Mess, and Waterparks- Stupid for You. I went through and had my friends vote for these ones. There were too many to choose from my. I wouldn't be butthurt if any of these bands took home the song of the year title. (However, I'm not the biggest MGK fan)
Artist of the year: A Day to Remember, Blink-182, Fall Out Boy, Good Charlotte, Green Day, MGK, Panic! at the Disco, Pierce the Veil, Sum 41, and The Pretty Reckless. Instead of telling you who I want to win, heres who I DON'T want to win: The Pretty Reckless, MGK, and Fall Out Boy.

The Shadow Side

Album of the year: Andy Black- The Shadow Side, Tonight Alive- Limitless, Architects U.K.- All Our Gods Have Abandoned Us, Attila- Chaos, Beartooth- Aggressive, Every Time I Die- Low Teens, I Prevail- Lifelines, Moose Blood- Blush, Pierce the Viel- Misadventures, and Waterparks- Double Dare. I'd like to think that Andy's going to take this one home, but the last four bands listed have my full support.
Looking forward to this year's APMAs?
Go cast your votes! Make every single one count! Who did you vote for?

Concert Addictions

Why do concerts give people such a buzz? How can people become addicted to it? Why do people waste so much money to buy tickets in the nose bleed section? An even better question: Why do people spend their cash to get front row seats? They're just going to get abused by the other concert goers who are just as excited, or more so, than they are. The answer to all of those questions is simple. There is no other feeling like it in the world. There are no words to describe the feeling you get when you finally see your favorite band stepping out on the stage in front of you. There is such a difference between seeing them on screen and in real life. The entire experience is unreal.
When you receive the tickets you get the first shot of excitement. This shows that it's real. You're really going to see them live. You've been waiting for this opportunity forever. You know though that there is still a chance something could go wrong. You pray that it doesn't, but there is the possibility of the show getting cancelled. However, this little sliver of doubt doesn't dim your light. Those tickets give you energy from the day you get them until the day you're standing at the venue.
Taking the journey to the show, this is the start of your venture. There is no turning back once you leave your drive way. Nothing can stop you from getting to the concert on time, or preferably an hour early. If you have a good friend and fellow fan in your passenger seat and a crew in the back, you're have the makings for an unforgettable time.
You get to the venue. There are already people standing in line. It's alright thought because you know there will be plenty of people that are going to be behind you. Plus you have your tickets to secure your place (unless its general admission, then you fight for the front). Waiting is the least fun, but everything past this point starts to feel fake. When you have company, the hour or longer wait isn't too harsh. Plus you're surrounded by people who have the same music interest as you. Being among your people from all different areas is an experience of its own. If you make the most out of your time in the line, you can walk away with a few more friends than you started with. The doors open, the line starts moving, and reality starts to fade away.
Your pulse quickens, a smile starts to broaden on your face, your cheeks start to sting from the pain, and tears may begin to well up in your eyes. You're not going to cry though because that would ruin your make up. Your hand is shaking as the workers scan your ticket allowing you inside. You're now in the same building as your idols. The stage is set up and merchandise tables catch your eye. Dropping some extra money on clothes that you can't get anywhere else is worth it. With your hands full of new merchandise and a heart full of joy, you go to your seats. It's going to be another hour wait or so before the opening act takes the stage. That's okay though because you're there. It's really going to happen. Your heart rate starts to settle again, but you can't yet contain your excitement and happiness.
Finally the lights dim. Music starts. The show is about to begin. Your heart rate picks up again, more so than before. It's actually happening. You pull out your phone or your camera, ready to capture every second of it. The opening act is amazing. You may have just discovered a new musical interest if you weren't into them before. If you were, then the best night of your life has just gotten started and your camera roll is quickly filling up. You only have a few minutes to regroup yourself before the one you came to see takes the stage.
The lights dim again. There is dramatic music playing. Perhaps there is a slide show of the band playing behind the stage getting everybody in the crowd pumped up for the performance of a life time. The first note strikes. Pyrotechnics go off. Lights brighten up the darkened, crowded room. Another note strikes. Another blast of light and then there they are. Right in front of your eyes are the people that you never thought you get the chance to see in person. Everything past this point is unreal. You lose yourself in every song. While you had planned on capturing every moment on camera, you end up spending a majority of the time enjoying the concert. There's no point in spending it behind a phone screen. After all, this is the night you've been waiting for for so long. If you're lucky one of the band members might smile at you or wave. There's a chance you could get a shoutout or a little dance. If so, that memory will stay with you forever, but it won't seem real. None of this will seem real. You're just living in the moment and loving every second.
 Maybe this band ends up being everything you imagined and more. If this is true, then your love for them has deepened. You had a connection with them before, but now that you've seen them standing a few feet from you, you know that that has deepened as well. You love them and you always will. Before you never thought that this would happen. You never thought that you would see the perfection that is standing in front of you, but yet there they are. Just like you've seen them a thousand times only this time they are more perfect. Every detail about them is the same only enhanced and you can't get enough of it. The lights go out, the music stops, and the band leaves the stage. What do you do now?
You go back to your house or your hotel room. You toss your collection of merchandise to the side. You'll sift through it later. You pull out your phone and go through all of the pictures and videos. This is when it sets in. You just saw the people you've admired for years. Maybe they were the people that saved your life or inspired you. These people mean so much to you and you finally saw them. Your adrenaline has worn down, but the happiness that you feel, that high, will be with you for a long as you live. You can't forget the feeling of living what you thought was the impossible.
That's why so many people love going to concerts. It's an escape, not just for the night, but whenever they need it. Those pictures will bring back every memory of the concert. Videos will help you relive every song and movement. You'll always remember the words they said. Those unreal memories you made that night will be unforgettable. They'll always bring you the joy you felt when you first saw them. You can go to the same band as many times as you want and the same feeling will overwhelm you. There's just something about living through the impossible that people can't get enough of.

Alternative Press Music Awards

In case you didn't know the APMAs are going to be held on July 18th. Alex Gaskarth and Jack Barakat of All Time Low are returning to host. I'm so excited to see what antics they bring to this year. It should be another epic night. There is a long time before the awards, but voting is now open! I went through and voted already. There is some really tough competition. Here are my favorites for this year. 

Best Vocalist: Alex Gaskarth (All Time Low), Kellin Quinn (Sleeping with Sirens), Patrick Stump (Fall Out Boy), Caleb Shomo (Beartooth), Lzzy Hale (Halestorm), Corey Taylor (Slipknot). I would be extremely happy if Kellin or Patrick won. My vote was for Alex. 
Best Guitarist: Jack Fowler (Sleeping With Sirens), Kevin Skaff (A Day To Remember), JB Brubaker (August Burns Red), Kellen McGregor (Memphis May Fire), Chad Gilbert (New Found Glory), Misha Mansoor (Periphery). My favorites are Jack, Kevin, and Chad. I put my vote in for Kevin. 
Best Bassist: Kelen Capener (The Story So Far), Skylar Acord (Issues), Ralph Sica (Being as an Ocean), Ryan Neff (Miss May I), Matthew Taylor (Motion City Soundtrack), Aaron Stringer (The Amity Affliction). I would love to see Skylar Acord win. I'm a fan of Issues, but my vote was for the amazing Kelen Capner. 
Best Drummer: Christian Coma (Black Veil Brides), Loniel Robinson (letlive.), Jerod Boyd (Miss May I), Dani Washington (Neck Deep), Maxx Danziger (Set It Off), Aaron Gillespie (Underoath). I wholeheartedly believe that Luke Holland should be in the category. He is sick! However, I'd be extremely excited if Maxx won. He's talented and adorable. 
Best International Band: As It Is, You Me at Six, Parkway Drive, Marianas Trench, Babymetal, and One Ok Rock. My hands down favorite is As It Is. You Me at Six and Marians Trench are both really good nominees as well. 
Best Live Band: Issues, Neck Deep, Motionless in White, Attilla, Beartooth, and Slipknot. I didn't have to think twice about voting for Issues. They are amazing live! So are the other artists, but Issues stage presence sets them apart for me. Motionless in White gives pretty good performances. They scare me a little, but I can see where they deserve this award. 

Issues

Artist Philanthropic...You may want to look these ones up in order to understand them completely. Nominees include: Andrew McMahon (Dear Jack Foundation), Jake Luhrs (HearSupport), The Used (Living the Dream), The Wonder Years (Puppies Behind Bars, After School All-Stars, The Herren Project, Futures Without Violence),This Wild Life (National Breast Cancer Foundation), and You Me at Six (Passport Back to the Bars,The Ghost Inside U.K. Fundraiser, PETA). I believe that I voted for You Me at Six. All are amazing fundraisers and bands. 
Most Dedicated Fanbase: Issues, Mayday Parade, New Year's Day, PVRIS, The Ghost Inside, and The Maine. I'm a fan of The Main and Mayday Parade. However, I think that the fans of The Ghost Inside deserve this one after raising money for the band after their accident.
Breakthrough Band: I Prevail, Knuckle Puck, Neck Deep, New Year's Day, Set It Off, and State Champs. This choice is obvious to me. State Champs all the way. I wouldn't have problem seeing I Prevail or Set It Off win though.
Best Underground Band: Cane Hill, Creeper, Moose Blood, ROAM, Tiny Moving Parts, and Too Close To Touch. I put my vote in for ROAM. It was a tough choice between them and Too Close to Touch.

Time for the big awards that everybody waits through the whole award show for.

Song of the Year: "Just Like You" (Falling in Reverse), "Hey! We Ok" (Never Shout Never), "Would You Still Be There" (Of Mice and Men), "Hallelujah" (Panic! at the Disco), "Divine Zero" (Pierce the Veil), and "Secrets" (State Champs). It's a toss up for me between "Hallelujah" and "Secrets". Both songs are constantly on repeat. I think that I voted for Panic! on this one though. I'd be

ecstatic if State Champs took home the award. I wouldn't mind seeing Pierce the Veil claim it either.
Music Video of the Year: Somethings Gotta Give (All Time Low), Identity (August Burns Red), Emperor's New Groove (Panic! at the Disco), If I'm Lucky (State Champs), Cardinals (The Wonder Years), Stressed Out (Twenty One Pilots). My picks are once again obvious. I voted for All Time Low, but I majorly support Panic! and State Champs. Do you see the pattern yet?
Album of the Year nominees are: Future Hearts (All Time Low), Found in Far Away Places (August Burns Red), That's the Spirit (Bring Me The Horizon), Copacetic (Knuckle Puck), American Candy (The Maine), The Pale Empire (Marilyn Manson), Life's Not Out to Get You (Neck Deep), Madness (Sleeping With Sirens), Around the World and Back (State Champs), and BlurryFace (Twenty One Pilots). I'm dedicated to All Time Low, so I cast my vote for them. I'm also in love with State Champs album. It's had more than one major hit on it. I wouldn't mind seeing BlurryFace win the award though.
Artist of the Year: All Time Low, Beartooth, PVRIS, Fall Out Boy, Motionless in White, Panic! at
the Disco, Real Friends, Sleeping With Sirens, Slipknot, and Twenty One Pilots. This was the hardest category to vote in. Panic! has my vote. Nobody has made a bigger come back than Brendon Urie. I pray that ATL, FOB, Pilots, or Panic! take this one home with them. My chances of ending up happy with the winner are high in this category!
Want to go vote yourself and support your favorite artist? (or my picks) Click here