I'm a songwriter?

A few weeks ago I was fumbling about Instagram in bed (as I always do when I first wake up) thinking about the next steps in achieving my career goal as a front woman/ vocalist. As I pondered the steps I needed to take I saw a post that particularly caught my eye, Dan Claremont of Set It Off was giving guitar and songwriting lessons. There was an email at the bottom to talk to Dan and ask about rates, and I was interested. After talking and getting some financial things out of the way Dan and I planned our first lesson. The night before our first lesson some things happened that I'm not going to go into grave detail about but just know, these events lead me into knowing what I wanted to write about, much like Ms. T Swift, my subject was heartache. Dan and I had meetings and lessons every other day for about 2 weeks and the more we met, the better my song became. Along the way of writing the beauty I call Take Care, Dan and I got to know each other fairly well and I started talking to him about my job, life, Set It Off, ect. I got to meet his super sweet girlfriend, Sydney, and his loud but adorable chihuahua, Monkey. And he taught me something I wish I would've taken in high school, music theory. Being a self taught musician, you think "Oh music theory and reading music isn't needed, just highly recommended." Or thoughts pretty close to that, but let me tell you, basic music theory made things go a lot smoother. Our lessons consisted of 30 minutes to an hour of talking about melodies, chord progression, music theory, lyrics. And Dan was always super helpful and positive. Dan also made me a super great promise, when they come to MD I'm going to be performing Take Care with Dan. I've also been invited to hang out with the guys after and before the show which is super cool, because not only did I make a kick ass song and learn some things, I made a really great friend. I won't be posting the song just yet, but be on the lookout for it. Until next time, Rachel Vanity. ✌🏻️❤️

TAKE CARE tears up Warped Tour 2015

TAKE CARE, a band founded in Fredrick, MD got the extreme honor of playing the Earnie Ball stage at the Columbia, MD date of Vans Warped Tour, on July 18th, 2015. The band started off in the online Battle Of The Bands a few months ago, where in order to win you have to get a certain number of votes, the general public is allowed access to listen to a few songs by each band and vote up their favorites. Finalists got to play at the Warped Tour date in their area. I made a promise to drummer, Dan Macon, that I would be in the front row, screaming his name when they got on stage to play. After standing in the longest merch line ever, I realized I had 10 minutes til TAKE CARE was on and decided to come back, the PVRIS merch could wait, I had a promise to keep. My friend, Stacie, and I booked it to what we thought was the Earnie Ball stage and stood for a few minutes. After realizing there was way too many people and I saw Dan no where I looked up to see I was actually at the Monster Energy stage, and proceeded to fix my minor mistake. I made it to the stage with about 5 minutes left in the other band's set and I did get a front row spot. Then Stacie said "Hey isn't that Dan?" and pointed side stage. I ran over and gave him a hug and from what I could tell the band was very nervous but VERY PUMPED. I talked to Dan for a second and then went to reclaim my front, middle spot, right where I could see all of the band. When it was TAKE CARE's time to shine, a mass of people was behind me, ready to see the guys in action. They rocked the entire stage. The audience (including myself) was singing along to songs, moshing, dancing, jumping, loving every single second of the TAKE CARE set, and it seemed as though the band was having a blast too. This was my first time seeing them live and I'm hungry for another TAKE CARE live show now. They are naturals in pop-punk live scene, at least in my opinion. I felt as though I was seeing a big band such as, NECK DEEP or Set It Off play by the way the crowd was reacting. Expect to see these guys headlining soon, I wouldn't be surprised, and if you didn't catch them at Warped Tour 2015, catch them playing house shows, or listen to them on band camp where their album All This Time I've Felt Like Nothing is out for free. Also give them a Facebook like and stay tuned for all that TAKE CARE has in store, I'm getting good vibes.

Interview with Purge Of Lilith's Emilio Truitt

A few day ago I interviewed someone very special to me who's name is Emilio Truitt who is also the front man of VA's Purge Of Lilith.

Q: How did you come up with your band name?

A: We were all in a Facebook chat talking about cool band names and we wanted something dark and we love folklore and Lilith, we wanted that for sure. I wanted Purge in there because I was on a Purge movie binge and we wanted something relatable so.

Q:What is unique about your band?

A: There's a lot, uh aside from us being flaming homos (off the record), we add many different styles of music, dark, heavy, Periphery, we are the upcoming of a new era of metal.

Q: Describe Purge Of Lilith in one word.

A: Gifted.

Q: What is your role in the band?

A: Book shows, program recordings, yell into the mic, write and edit lyrics, and take the trash out every Saturday.

Q: What is your relationship status?

A: I am taken and Liam Neeson's gonna find me.

Q: Any upcoming releases?

A: We may release one more "Warrior" sample on Facebook and Instagram.

Q: Any upcoming shows/ tours?

A: A show on June 20th in Stafford, pool side.

Q: What's your favorite tattoo you have?

A: My rose on my wrist, it not only resembles who I am but things I've gone through, witnessed. And to let you know you can make it through anything as long as you keep your head up.

Q: What's your favorite band?

A: That's a dick question. Emmure.

Q: What's your favorite venue to play?

A: House shows. House shows are the best.

Q: What is your dream line up (to play)?

A: Sworn in, Attila, Emmure, The Acacia Strain. and Motionless In White.

Q: Marry, Fuck, Kill your bandmates.

A: Marry Jack because he's a cutie. Fuck Josh because when he has a beard he looks like a grizzly bear. Kill Tyler because he makes me laugh too much and it's bad for my metal vibe.

Q:  Why should people listen to Purge Of Lilith?

A: Because they're able to take like 2 to 3 to 4 minutes to listen to our band, they're capable of it, why not do it? And we're awesome.

Q: What's your favorite color?

A: Black.

Q: What's your favorite animal?

A: Cats.

Q: Describe your girlfriend in one word.

A: Trouble. 

Bands you should know: Take Care

First off, hey guys! It's great to be back in this lovely new year and let me tell you I've already made a new friend with a band that I think everyone should know! Ladies and gentlemen, I'm talking about the band Take Care. Over the past week or so I've become pretty good acquaintances, friends even, with drummer Daniel Macon. He's really cool! The band itself is a punk-pop band from Frederick consisting of members Daniel Macon (Drummer), Matt Wilson (Guitar), Spencer Cooper (Guitar), Adam Stone (Bass), and Tyler Hill (Vocalist). The band recently released a music video for the 1 minute 40 second song titled 1/2/09. The video actually took place at my exboyfriend's house (yeah it was a weird sense of Deja Vu watching it). The video was very well made and certainly wowed me, definitely look that one up. Trust me you will not regret a second of it. The band also has recently released their album "All This Time I've Felt Like Nothing" which is the album the song I talked about above, is featured on! The album was released on October 14th, 2014 and can be found on Bandcamp where you can download it at the price of your choosing or you can buy the physical copy for a mere $10.00. Something significant about this band in particular is something I found on their Facebook page; while digging around for the information that makes this article possible, in the "About Me" section I found probably one of the best things a band has ever said. "We're not trying to re-invent the pop-punk wheel, we just wanna have fun..." Beautiful, right? This band has 1,329 Facebook likes and 4,217 views on the 1/2/09 video. Take Care, I wanna see something in particular from you boys. I wanna see you on Warped Tour. The potential in this band is real, I have good feelings about this band, like super great feelings. Expect big things from them! And last but most certainly not least Take Care has two upcoming shows! The first one is February 13th at Cafe 611 in Frederick, MD and the second date is February 15th at a house show in Baltimore, MD. To hear more about Take Care, maybe even an album review of "All This Time I've Felt Like Nothing", stayed tuned to Vanity's Local Band Blog :)

Disclaimer: I'm not here to please everyone!

Hey guys, apparently this post needs to be made because at school a girl came up to me and said "X didn't like what you said about them in your review." Well let me make something clear, I'm here to state my opinion and to state facts more than anything. I know for a fact that I'm not going to please everyone and that's just the way that these things go. I'm not changing my style or sugar coating anything just to please people. You want to know my opinions or the facts? I'm here to state those. Don't come to me asking for my opinion and then become upset about it. I'm here for constructive criticisms, to tell you what I, and possibly others, may have liked or disliked about your stuff. I'm here to give suggestions, I'm not trying to boost any egos or bring anyone down, I'm giving the feedback that you ask for. I'm sorry for those who don't enjoy my reviews but that isn't going to stop me from doing what I enjoy doing, which is writing these posts and reviews because a lot of people have been enjoying them! So all in all, I know for a fact I won't please everyone and I don't intend to. Sorry.
                                                                    XOXO,
                                                                        R. Vanity ♥

Local show brings musicians together!

October 18th was a day I will never ever forget. A day where my internet life and my real social life intertwined. One of my best friends, Stacie, and I decided to throw a Halloween party in which we'd invite some bands I know and dress up. We had planned this party for about a month and a half and if you know me, you know there had to be good music. Stacie and I talked her mom into letting us party it up at her place and invite some of my friends to come play and I knew exactly who to invite. At the end of the day I had a four band set up that consisted of James Wolfe  (Joe Wolfe of Sister City's brother), Spooky Casual, Naked, and finally Social Repose. Richie was the first to show up in his little black Nissan packed full with equipment; the first thing he said was "Hey girl!" Richie, Lizzy (My girlfriend at the time), Stacie, and I all went back and forth taking his things into the house and then he set up. His set up was crazy consisting of different lights, speakers, his mic, sound boards, a fog machine, and maybe even more! Next to show up was Carl Smith AKA Naked and 1/3 of Spooky Casual. Then Matt, and so on. Not only did everyone play a killer set but I met people that I've been waiting to meet forever! Let's start with BowTie Steele shall we? This 6'4" man looks scary with a beard and long teal blue hair but once you get to talking to him you'll think the complete opposite. BowTie was one person I connected to instantly especially when I went to shake his hand he pulled me into a straight up hug. He's funny, fun, and feels like a brother and someone I've known for years. He is also the bassist for Encasing Embrace and the fill in bassist for Face The Fire It was an honor to meet him. Next is the ever fabulous Richie Giese of Social Repose. I had my doubts about him when we Facebook chatted I'll be honest, my biggest fear being that he might've just been acting kind for fans sake or to get a gig but when I met him in person I instantly knew my doubts were indeed incorrect. Richie was one of the kindest people I've ever met with a set to die for. He instantly got you off your feet and jumping and headbanging and every other exciting dance adjective I can think of. He was almost like that hot friend/ big brother that everyone wants because they find him very attractive and then you get to see what he's actually like and you're like well damn this guy is actually pretty dope. (If that made any kind of sense.) Carl Smith was the last one I got to meet that I've previously talked to on the internet and Carl was very quiet but when he spoke it was very honest, funny, or a nice combo of both. NOW LET'S TALK THE MUSIC ASPECT BECAUSE THAT'S WHAT YOU'RE HERE FOR, right? James Wolfe went first with a folky pop-punk sound that at first I was a little thrown off by. As his set progressed I really seemed to enjoy it, his chords were great, vocals on point, and he seemed to be enjoying himself! If you wanna check him out (which I highly suggest doing) do so here. You can really see his personality through his songs, a personality which I think I could get along with. Next was Spooky Casual, now please feel for these dudes and cut them some slack because #1 their vocalist had a family emergency so she couldn't make it so Carl took the liberty of covering the vocals and #2 Matt's guitar legitimately began falling apart even before they played and it progressively got worse as they began to. I spoke to a few of the audience members that listened along with me to Spooky Casual's set and we all agreed that the amp volume was too high for their material, we also all agreed that you could barely hear Carl singing, and that the cord progression in each song sounded sort of similar. The biggest problem with Spooky's set in my own opinion was the mic volume. As a Spooky Casual fan my favorite part are the lyrics and when I can't hear what the vocalist is saying it messes with the way I perceive the song, but looking at it as a whole, with the circumstances they were faced with, Spooky Casual didn't do too bad of a job. Let's take a look at the positives of their set: Carl moved around which kept us all interested, the lighting fit the music style, and Matt wore man-flops. As always. Check Spooky Casual out here. Naked was next and here's where we had some major problems, although I love Carl with my heart and soul we had a giant issue. Carl's set has a song at the end where Carl places a noose around his neck and proceeds to sing and do the gestures of him hanging, this ended up actually triggering about 5 kids and made them have to step out due to PTSD, anxiety, and depression issues with that set. Although that wasn't completely Carl's fault and I did like the song he was singing, I would suggest sending a fair warning out to show goers incase anyone may get triggered by that sort of thing in the future. Carl's songs were very pretty though with deep lyrics about depression and suicide and lighting that fit just as well. Over all Carl did very well and musically his set was top tier. Check Naked out here. Finally, the night was ended by the wonderful uplifting tunage of the ever fabulous Social Repose, and if you check my blog on the regular you know I love me some SR. Richie's set was by far my favorite, he had a light show that was programmed to go with his music, two brand new spot lights, a fog machine, and well his music is my jam. Richie got everyone up on the floor, got me to dance so hard my legs hurt for two days, had BowTie on the floor (BowTie even picked Richie up and spun him around) and Richie had everyone smiling and happy! Richie's actual voice is pretty much the same that you hear in recordings, no autotune or anything and he's very fun to dance with! Richie will be going on tour starting in November so make sure to check him out if you can! Check out his music here. Overall the party was a great success with many musicians and many great friends! Stay tuned for interviews with Social Repose and Spooky Casual soon!

Social Repose to go on a full U.S. winter tour with Blood On The Dance Floor!

Richie Giese from Social Repose announced earlier on this week that he will, for a fact be touring with the one and only, Blood On The Dance Floor. Social Repose is to be opening for BOTDF on The Reckoning Tour, the tour is to hit up most states (not including MD, boooooo) and will start on November 23rd and end December 19th. I've spoken to Richie personally who is extremely excited to be touring with the well known band consisting of members Dahvie Vanity and Jayy Von Monroe. If you can, buy tickets and support the movement at botdfvip.bigcartel.com stay tuned for more on Social Repose and your other favorite local bands.