Panic! At The Disco pictures from Rolling Stone (Page: 2)

In the Studio: Panic! at the Disco (With Bonus Pete Wentz Video Interview)

Panic! at the Disco guitarist-lyricist Ryan Ross is tired of computer-tuned vocals and software-tweaked drums. “People have taken technology so far, to the point where music is almost sterile these days,” he says from the studio in Las Vegas’ Palms Hotel, taking a break from recording sessions for the band’s second album. “With all those old rock & roll records, you can really feel there’s a character to them, because it was played by real people. I feel like a lot of that’s missing now.” It’s a common argument these days, but Ross is an odd person to be making it: His own band’s platinum debut, the Fall Out Boy-plus-synth-style A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, was a prime offender, overflowing with maxed-out pitch-correction and baroque Pro Tools trickery. “That’s a valid point,” Ross says. “That record is basically programmed to a T. I mean, everything is lined up and perfect.” Click here to watch Pete Wentz talk about the new Panic! songs he’s heard so far, his favorite new lyrics and how he’s watched the band grow up and evolve. For their second album, everything is different: The band is writing songs on acoustic guitars, not on computers. And even though the group members have a far higher budget at their disposal than the $10,000 they spent on the first one, they’re recording the album live in the studio. “We do take after take until we get it right,” Ross says. “It’s a lot harder, but it’s making us play better.” They were still in high school when they recorded Fever, and it seems like they’re faintly embarrassed by it: “I think that everybody kind of changes a lot between the time they’re seventeen and when they’re twenty-one or twenty-two,” says Ross. The growing process hasn’t been easy. The band discarded ten or so songs for what would have been an entirely different v

Published: 2007-11-17
Provider: Rolling Stone
Keywords: Rock News, In the Studio

Panic! At the Disco’s Ryan Ross Talks New Album As He Turns Legal at Pete Wentz’s Bar

Last night Panic! at the Disco’s Ryan Ross turned twenty-one in New York City at Angels and Kings, the East Village “dive bar” owned by labelmates Fall Out Boy, Gym Class Heroes, the Academy Is …, Cobra Starship and their management, Crush. Ross was in town between last weekend’s gigs at the Reading and Leeds festivals and this weekend’s Bumbershoot Music and Arts Festival in Seattle. After that, it’s back to work on the band’s sophomore disc, which is Ross’ main focus: “We’re trying to finish up in the next month, month and a half,” he says. After Bumbershoot and San Diego Street Scene at the end of September the band plans to head into the studio with a release slated for February or March of 2008. The scene at the bar last night was suitably carnival-esque for the dramatic Panic! guitarist. Ross’ girlfriend, Keltie Colleen (of Pussycat Dolls-esque troupe Sugar and Spice) planned the ordeal: She hung mini versions of Ross’ high school yearbook photo (which she found on the Internet) from the ceiling by ribbon, commissioned Ross’ friends to wear T-shirts sporting the image of a twelve-year-old Ross holding a fish, and planned her own midnight surprise: having fellow Sugar and Spice members wheel her out in a wrapped box. Though Ross and his bandmates chose not to invest in Angels and Kings when it opened because they were underage, the band is now halfway to legality (singer Brendan Urie and drummer Spencer Smith still have to hit the twenty-one milestone) and Ross says its possible the band would buy into the investment in the future. Some of the current owners were also in attendance last night: Gym Class Heroes’ Travis McCoy, whose band is heading out on the Young Wild Things Tour with Fall Out Boy this fall, and Gabe Saporta and Ryland Blackinton of Cobra Starship, whose next album comes out October 23rd.

Published: 2007-09-01
Provider: Rolling Stone
Keywords: Rock News

Picture: Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fall Out Boy Storm the U.K. for Reading and Leeds Festivals

Mercury Prize Nominees: Rock Daily’s Fave Newcomers

Earlier today, nominees were announced for the U.K.’s Mercury prize, which is sort of like the Grammy for Album of the Year, only with better artists and no de facto requirement that you’ve moved a million units. You already know the frontrunners, including Amy Winehouse, Dizzee Rascal and Arctic Monkeys, who won the Mercury last year. But there are some fairly obscure names on the list — like Breaking Artist Bat for Lashes. So here’s a primer for the non-Anglophiles out there: Rock Daily’s favourite Mercury newcomers. Maps Who: James Chapman, a one-man-band from Northampton, England. Sounds Like: Maps’ debut, We Can Create, is full of lush, atmospheric pop that recalls My Bloody Valentine’s Loveless — only warmer and less noisy. Fun Fact: Chapman recorded the album in his bedroom, mostly on a sixteen-track recorder. Jamie T Who: Twenty-two-year-old London singer-songwriter Jamie Treays. Sounds Like: Treays’ debut, Panic Prevention, is long on tuneful, sharp-witted character sketches and charming, ramshackle tunes built on keyboards and samplers. The album has been compared to both the Streets and Badly Drawn Boy. Fun Fact: Treays has self-released a series of mixtapes called Panic Prevention Disco, which have included songs by Primal Scream, Kate Bush and Ol’ Dirty Bastard. The View Who: Scottish quartet whose debut, Hats Off to the Buskers, debuted at number one on the English pop charts early this year. Sounds Like: Bright, spiky Britpop with action-packed grooves and sweet melodies — like a more cuddly version of the Artcic Monkeys. Fun Fact: The View got initial exposure opening for Babyshambles this year after Pete Doherty saw them busking outside one of his gigs in Scotland. New Young Pony Club Who: London quintet who debuted this year with Fantastic Playroom. Sounds Like: Popwise, danceable electro-rock — something like LCD Soundsystem, or what Brit kids call “New Rave.” Fun Fact: NYPC were introduced t

Published: 2007-07-18
Provider: Rolling Stone
Keywords: Rock News

Picture: Jordin Sparks Is America’s New “Idol,” Scott Stapp Is Sorry, Fugees Not Reuniting

Picture: Afternoon News: Avril Lavigne, Rolling Stone on TV, Britney Spears and More

Plain White T’s Tease NYC With So-So Pop Punk

The Plain White T’s are the latest in a slew of bubblegum pop-punk bands to gain popularity in the wake of Fall Out Boy. The bubblegum moniker here is entirely appropriate, as it applies to their genre as well as their music, which is best described as chewy, catchy, elastic and ultimately flavorless. So it was no surprise to anyone who showed up Tuesday night at New York’s Fillmore at Irving Plaza when the band led off its set by dedicating a song to every girl in the audience, and then extended that dedication to every guy in a band who writes music for the girls in the audience. (Did they realize they were dedicating the song to themselves?) Yes, the Chicago quintet truly brought new clumsiness to the cannon of sloppy “I-need-you” lyrics. A sampling: “You and me, we like the same kind of music/That’s why we, make a good you and me,” from the song — you guessed it — “You and Me”. But hoards of teenaged girls in braces and backpacks didn’t seem to mind. They used the pauses between songs as efficiently as they could, counting off and then collectively proposing to lead singer Tom Higgenson: “Marry me, Tom!” It was like a living, breathing MySpace comment. Plain White T’s gained some mainstream popularity last year after filling in for Bloc Party to open for Panic! at the Disco on their U.S. tour. Although still relatively unknown to the world (they only have 378,603 MySpace fans-Psh! Flavor Flav has more than that), they were able to pull together a modest, small-venue tour in support of their latest album Every Second Counts. (The bill also featured Boys Night Out, Lovedrug and Dear and the Headlights.) On stage, Higgenson alternated between two movements-the wet dog shake and the invisible jump rope. In other words, as dynamic as a plain white T. Guitarist Dave Trio was also a bit of a snooze, and De’Mar Hamilton gave a mediocre effort on drums, boasting an “eh” solo halfway through the song

Published: 2007-04-20
Provider: Rolling Stone
Keywords: Live Shows

Pearl Jam Indulge in Whimsical Summer Tour, L.A. City Council Crush Out on Jenny Lewis, Panic Working on Concept Album?

Sometimes you’re allowed to tour even if you have nothing to promote. That’s Pearl Jam’s thinking. The band told Billboard that even though they have no current plans to work on their follow-up to last year’s self-titled release, they couldn’t pass on what guitarist Mike McCready called some “pretty cool offers” to play live this summer. The band will play a bunch of European summer festivals and will headline Lollapalooza in Chicago on August 5th. Jenny Lewis has been honored by the Los Angeles City Council as a “pioneer woman.” The award, which is given out each year to one woman from each of L.A.’s 15 council districts for “outstanding community service and accomplishments in the areas of education, equal rights, professional opportunities, arts, sciences…” and so on basically means that even the government thinks Jenny Lewis is the coolest. Panic! at the Disco need to become more high concept like Britney needs another wig, but the band apparently feel differently. Word is that they are hard at work on a concept album for their follow-up to the obscenely successful A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out. So what’s the concept? Apparently the band writes: “It’s kind of a love story. It’s a timeless age of romantic, poetic fantasies.” China’s version of American Idol, which achieved huge success with “Super Girls Voice” last year, is ramping up for a new male-idol-seeking installment called “Boys Happy Voice.” But this time around, no one gets to be weird. “No weirdness, no vulgarity, no low taste,” the State Administration of Radio, Film and Television said. “Happy Boys Voice” should limit itself to “healthy and ethically inspiring” songs, and should “maintain a happy atmosphere.” Creepy. Former Kiss guitarist Mark St John — who replaced Vinnie Vincent in 1984 before being forced to

Published: 2007-04-06
Provider: Rolling Stone
Keywords: Morning News Roundup

Fro Patro Goes Home, Bono Becomes A Knight, Ryan Adams Goes Bananas

We’re starting to fear that Sanjaya could win. It’s important not to discount the insanity of the voting public as evidenced by last night’s dejection of Chris Sligh. We have to say that we’re thrilled “Fro Patro” is behind us but sad to see Sligh go so soon when people like that inane Haley girl are still around. Bono has been knighted. According to a post on U2’s Web site, the humanitarian/rocker was “presented with an honorary knighthood on behalf of Her Majesty the Queen” by the British Ambassador in Dublin earlier this morning. The honor was bestowed in recognition of Bono’s contribution to music and for his work as an activist. Congrats Bono! The Beastie Boys are finally doing away with those pesky lyrics. The group has announced that they will perform a series of instrumental shows this summer. They promise that this - and everything else they plan to do in the future - will be “sick.” Why have an actual Web site when you can just display falling bananas instead? That seems to be Ryan Adams’ thinking. We are told that an announcement on Panic! At the Disco’s Web site tells us all that the group will play the NCAA kickoff event this Friday in Atlanta. We can’t confirm this because the band’s site - with it’s overwhelming dose of baroque piano audio and complex naked burlesque girl graphics - keeps shutting our computer down. Looks like we’re all being treated to a Foxy Brown trial. The diva pled not guilty to charges resulting from a fight she allegedly got into with the owner of a beauty supply store in Florida. Not another confusing qualifier about a British singer’s chart position. According to BBC News, when Joss Stone’s album Introducing Joss Stone debuted at Number 2 on the charts yesterday, it became “the highest new entry by a British female artist in US chart history.” That sounds like it means something, so congrats Jo

Published: 2007-03-29
Provider: Rolling Stone
Keywords: General, Morning News Roundup

In the Studio: Panic! at the Disco (With Bonus Pete Wentz Video Interview)

Panic! At the Disco’s Ryan Ross Talks New Album As He Turns Legal at Pete Wentz’s Bar

Smashing Pumpkins, Red Hot Chili Peppers, Fall Out Boy Storm the U.K. for Reading and Leeds Festivals

Mercury Prize Nominees: Rock Daily’s Fave Newcomers

Jordin Sparks Is America’s New “Idol,” Scott Stapp Is Sorry, Fugees Not Reuniting

Afternoon News: Avril Lavigne, Rolling Stone on TV, Britney Spears and More

Plain White T’s Tease NYC With So-So Pop Punk

Pearl Jam Indulge in Whimsical Summer Tour, L.A. City Council Crush Out on Jenny Lewis, Panic Working on Concept Album?

Fro Patro Goes Home, Bono Becomes A Knight, Ryan Adams Goes Bananas