Futurama

Forgot "Futurama" is back, just finished its return season.

Brief Plot Synopsis: 1999 pizza delivery boy is unfrozen after 1000 years.

Good Episode for Beginner: Really any episode is good, it doesn't take much to get used to it.

Favorite Episode: "The Farnsworth Parabox"

"Futurama" was great, FOX cancelled it, it got popular and now it's back on Comedy Central. This comeback season was kind of crappy, but I was happy to have it back.

Gaslight Anthem, 9/28/2010

Real quick post about the Gaslight Anthem show I went to last night at Rams Head Live...

Show was a lot of fun. Crowd was good, nothing really to complain about the set list minus only a few "Sink or Swim" songs. Here's the set list from what I remember in no order:

American Slang
Stay Lucky
Bring It On
Diamond Church Street Choir
Queen of Lower Chelsea
Boxer
Blue Jeans & White T-Shirts
Boomboxes and Dictionaries
1930
I'da Called Your Woody, Joe
Angry Johnny and the Radio
Great Expectations (original closing)
The '59 Sound
Old White Lincoln
High Lonesome (Opener)
Film Noir
Miles Davis & The Cool
The Patient Ferris Wheel
Casanova, Baby! (Original Encore)
Even Cowgirls Get the Blues
Here's Looking At You, Kid
The Backseat (Encore Closer)

Back to TV next

Breaking Bad

Last of the current shows is by no coincidence the best show on TV right now (in my opinion), "Breaking Bad". It should be back in the Summer on Sunday night's on AMC.

Brief Ploy Synopsis: High school chemistry teacher is diagnosed with cancer and becomes a meth cook.

Good Episode for Beginner: "A No-Rough-Stuff-Type Deal" (Season 1, Episode 7)

Favorite Episode: "One Minute" (Season 3, Episode 7)

The first season of "Breaking Bad" was really good. The second season was excellent. Holy crap the third season was amazing. It tends to be a slow paced show so if you want to get into it but want to jump into it quicker, skip season one. I'm upset I have to wait for season four, but it'll give me time to get the DVDs and re-watch and enjoy. This also came at the suggestion of Alan Sepinwall.

Parks and Recreation

Getting into my two favorite shows on TV now starting with "Parks and Recreation". It is on Thursdays on NBC and will be back as soon as "Outsourced" is cancelled. "Parks and Rec" was the funniest show on TV last year. You should watch it.

Brief Plot Synopsis: Indiana city Deputy Parks Director and her over enthusiasm for her job where she works with the funniest co-works since "The Office".

Good Episode for Beginner: "Rock Show" (Season 1, Episode 6)

Favorite Episodes: Well I started to go over this with season 2 episodes...but couldn't get halfway through the list without laughing up. I guess "The Possum" or "Sweetums" would be my favorites. (This DVD needs to come out soon)

I watched the first episode of "Parks and Rec" in 2009 and HATED it. It is pretty bad. The first 5 episodes of season one all kind of suck. Then the finale wasn't bad, and 1/3 into season 2 it just took off. The thing with "Parks and Rec" is you need to give it a try. I didn't and I regret that. Stick with it, watch the second season and if you don't like that then don't watch it. But don't judge it based on season one like I did. "Parks and Rec" also has given us the greatest character on TV, Ron f'ing Swanson as well as the most haunting opening parody of all time (all below).

Psych

I've covered all the shows that are currently on the air so now I'll get into the "current" shows that are one some form of a hiatus. First up is "Psych" which usually airs on USA at 9 on Wednesdays

Brief Plot Synopsis: Guy convinces the Santa Barbra Police Department that he is a psychic but he is in fact just hyper perceptive. "The Mentalist" has the same plot 2 years later

Good Episodes for Beginner: "Pilot" (Season 1, Episode 1), "Shawn VS. The Red Phantom" (Season 1, Episode 8)

Favorite Episode: "Shawn (and Gus) of the Dead" (Season 2, Episode 16)

"Psych" ran out of good story ideas a couple years ago, but I still look forward to watching it every week. It still makes me laugh all the time, and the two leads, James Roday and Dule Hill, have just great chemistry as a crime fighting duo. I also created a drinking game for this show.

The Big Bang Theory

Thursdays are busy, especially with the moving of "The Big Bang Theory" to 8pm on CBS. So two days later here is what I have to say about the #1 comedy on TV.

Brief Plot Synopsis: Two nerdy scientists live across the hall from a hot girl.

Good Episode for Beginner: "The Luminous Fish Effect" (Season 1, Episode 4)

Favorite Episode: "The Creepy Candy Coating Corollary" (Season 3, Episode 5)

"The Big Bang Theory" is NOT the funniest show on TV, yet it is the #1 comedy ratings wise. It tends to get awkward, not sure if we should be laughing out or with the characters. Most viewers are stupid and enjoy both (there, I said it). At it's funniest, this show can have me on the floor laughing. Many times however, I just hear crickets. It is cheesy, but enjoyable none the less.

The Office

"The Office" started up season 7 last night at 9 on NBC.

Brief Plot Synopsis: Mocumentary about a Scranton, PA, based paper company and the characters who make it up.

Best Episode for Beginner: "Health Care" (Season 1, Episode 3)

Favorite Episode: "Conflict Resolution" (Season 2, Episode 21)

"The Office" used to be my one of my favorite shows. Then season 6 happened. It wasn't terrible, but it was just very disappointing. Michael Scott at a low key is very funny. When they go over the top he is just obnoxious and there was a lot of that in season 6. Last season aside, "The Office" has in the past been as good of a comedy as any on TV, and the older seasons will never disappoint me.

Community

Starting up at 8 is "Community", the best new show of last year in my mind. I begins its new season at 8 NBC.

Brief Plot Synopsis: Former lawyer must go back to a Community College in order to gain his legitimate undergraduate degree.

Best Episode of Beginners: "Spanish 101" (Season 1, Episode 2)

Favorite Episode: "Modern Warfare" (Season 1, Episode 23)

"Community" is ridiculous in every sense. But it is also one of the funniest shows on TV. It's broad with really only two characters playing straight, rateable ones. The pop culture references are priceless.

Modern Family

Premiering tonight is ABC's "Modern Family", the Emmy winner for Best Comedy. It starts tonight at 9pm.

Brief Plot Synopsis: Mocumentary that follows three related families: Gay Couple, Patriarch and his younger Latin wife and son, and traditional family of 5.

Favorite Episodes/Good Beginner Episodes (All Season One): "Pilot" (Episode 1), "Coal Digger" (E5), "Fizbo" (E9)

I was very pleased with "Modern Family" last year. Best Comedy? No, but one of the better ones. The Emmy's were deserving (Best Supporting Actor, Best Writing), and I'm happy it's done well. I wasn't sure of it, but the suggestion by yet again, Alan Sepinwall, paid off.

The Middle

First of the 2 Wednesday ABC shows I watch is "The Middle". It starts up again tomorrow night at 8:30.

Brief Plot Overview: Mother of a lower-middle class family deals with her life and family.

Favorite Episode/Good Beginner Episode: Block Party (Season 1, Episode 5)

"The Middle" is not an amazing show. I'm not pretending it is. But it is good. It is certainly funny. Patricia Heaton and Neil Flynn (The Janitor) are great and all three children in the show provide a lot of laughs. I don't watch this show religiously, I don't mind when I miss episodes. But I do like watching it so if I have the time I do. I started watching this show at the suggestion of Alan Sepinwall, but he does not cover it extensively.

Mad Men

Nothing I'm watching tomorrow so I'll go with a show that aired last night, AMC's "Mad Men"

Brief Plot Synopsis: Follows the star of a 1960's ad agency with both his professional and personal life.

Good Episode for Beginners: "The Wheel" (Season 1, episode 13)

Favorite Episode: "Shut the Door. Have a Seat" (Season 3, episode 13)

Mad Men has won best drama each of its first 3 seasons. It is damn good all around. Probably the second best show on TV behind its AMC partner "Breaking Bad". It is not for people with short attention spans because that means you're too stupid to enjoy the show. I love the period setting of it which is very important to the plot.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=R2bLNkCqpuY

*this is yet another show I watched at the suggestion of Alan Sepinwall

How I Met Your Mother

Keeping up with my favorite TV shows. The season premier is Monday at 8 pm on CBS.

Brief Plot Synopsis: The title of the show is pretty much the plot. We follow Ted Mosby and his 4 best friends from 2005 on his search for his future wife (or at least mother of the kids he is talking to).

Episodes for Beginners: "The Slutty Pumpkin" (Season 1, episode 6), "The Pineapple Incident" (Season 1, episode 10)

Favorite Episode: "Slap Bet" (Season 2, episode 9)

I watched the first 4 seasons of HIMYM last summer to be caught up in time for season 5. Unfortunately, season 5 kind of sucked. Still, the creators have said that they know what went wrong and hope that this season is back to the old form. In it's best, HIMYM is one of the funniest shows on TV. As for the plot, I'm starting to get tired of it and want him to (SPOILER ALERT!!!!!) find the mother soon.





**Forgot to metion, this is another show I watch from the suggestion of Alan Sepinwall

Favorite TV Shows: Chuck

After exhausting pretty much all possibly music posts I figure I'll go into one of my other favorite hobbies: TV shows. So in honor of the new TV season starting on Monday, why not talk about my favorite shows past and present. For the best TV analysis, read the very good Alan Sepinwall of Hitfix.com here: http://www.hitfix.com/blogs/whats-alan-watching. His old blog is linked on the side of my page, and from reading his material I now watch many new shows that I did not used to.

So to kick off this series I'll start with one of the shows that begin on Monday, NBC's "Chuck"

Brief Plot Summery: A electronic store computer expert (the Nerd Herd) receives and email that subliminally plants all the government's secrets in his head.

Recommended Episode for Beginner: "Chuck Verses the Intersect" (Season 1, episode 1)

Favorite Episode: "Chuck Verses the Ring" (Season 2, episode 22)

Chuck is an incredibly nerdy show. The plot is pretty absurd, but that's what makes it so enjoyable. It's about a nerdy guy who becomes a spy...and that's more or less it. Now despite the outrageous plots, the show is very funny and still there are many good emotional episodes. You can start watching whenever as long as you get a minor plot synopsis. Chuck certainly isn't for everyone and isn't the funniest show on TV, but it is all around fun and always a pleasure (no guilt). This is a show I started watching from reading Alan Sepinwall. Chuck airs at 8pm, Mondays on NBC

#1: Streetlight Manifesto

So you were born and that was a good day. Some day you'll die and that is a shame. But somewhere in the between was the life in which we all dream, and nothing and no one can ever take that away.

At number one to little surprise is Streetlight Manifesto. They have already been mentioned on this with their connections with BOTAR and Catch 22.

Wiki Says: Streetlight Manifesto is an American ska band from East Brunswick, New Jersey fronted by Tomas Kalnoky.

They released their first album, Everything Goes Numb, which was distributed by Victory Records, on August 26, 2003. The band headlined and sold out their first concert at Rutgers University in New Brunswick, New Jersey on December 9, 2003. Several of Streetlight Manifesto's members were well known in the New Jersey third wave ska community for their roles in past ska punk bands from that area, primarily Kalnoky's Catch 22 and fellow New Jersey band One Cool Guy. As of October 4, 2009, the lineup consists of Mike Brown on alto and baritone sax, Jim Conti on alto and tenor sax, songwriter Tomas Kalnoky on guitar and lead vocals, bass guitarist Peter McCullough, trumpet player Matt Stewart, trombone player Nadav Nirenberg, and Chris Thatcher on drums.

Discovery: Everything Goes Numb (2003) -Favorite album all time #3

Somewhere In the Between (2007) -Favorite album all time #4

99 Songs of Revolution Volume 1 (2010) -#23

Other Releases: Keasbey Nights as performed by Streetlight Manifesto (2006) -#7

Ska is Dead (2007)

Favorite Songs: 30. Birds Flying Away -Mason Jennings cover

29. This One Goes Out Too...*

28. Day In, Day Out*

27. Me and Julio Down by the Schoolyard -Paul Simon cover

26. Sick and Sad*

25. They Provide the Paint for the Picture-Perfect Masterpiece That You Will Paint On the Inside of Your Eyelids -BOTAR cover

24. 1234, 1234*

23. A Moment of Silence

22. The Saddest Song

21. Puck Rock Girl -Dead Milkmen cover

20. On & On & On*

19. A Moment of Violence

18. That'll Be The Day

17. We Are the Few

16. What A Wicked Gang Are We

15. The Receiving End Of It All

14. If and When We Rise

13. Somewhere In the Between

12. Watch It Crash - Favorite song all time #97

11. One Foot On the Gas, One Foot In the Grave -Favorite song all time #94

10. The Blonde Lead the Blind -#80

9. Failing, Flailing -#77

8. Point/Counterpoint -#44

7. Keasbey Nights* -#36

6. Everything Went Numb -#32

5. Down, Down, Down to Mephisto's Cafe -#25

4. We Will Fall Together -#20

3. A Better Place, A Better Time -#13

2. The Big Sleep -#9

1. Dear Sergio* -#4

*song originally by Catch 22 on the original Keasbey Nights

Years Active: 2002-Present

Seen Live: 9 Times

May 2005-East Rutherford, NJ

December 2006-Sayerville, NJ

July 2007-Sayerville, NJ

November 2007-Sayerville, NJ

November 2007-Towson, MD

April 2008-Towson, MD

January 2009-Washington, DC

July 2009-Oceanport, NJ

June 2010-Towson, MD

Streetlight became my favorite band in December of 2008 when I became fed of with the direction that Big D was going. But they didn't get this spot by default, they earned it. At that point, I already loved every time I saw Streetlight live and they had put out 3 albums that I couldn't stop listening to. Since then they've only assured their spot as they continue to impress me both live and with what they're putting out recorded. They've had a ton of turnover in members, and suffered many set backs (like getting robbed twice in a year and hating their record label), but despite all this they are still going very strong. It is interesting that in their four records, Streetlight have 49 songs...only 22 of which are original tracks. But if their cover of "Just" by Radiohead can get Romo into them I think they're doing something right.

Up Next: Who knows

#1.5: Close But No Cigar

While this list has been very fun to do, it wasn't necessarily easy. As I said way back in the first post or so I wasn't really able to do 100 artists I truly like. 75 was also not too easy for the higher numbered posts because many of those bands I listen to like 5 songs. Still, there were many bands that did make this list that either I do enjoy a lot or would very much like to get into more. These bands will follow along with a few in there that I don't actually like at all. See if you can guess which are real and which I don't actually care for!

1. Against Me!
2. All
3. All Time Low
4. The Allstonians
5. Anti-Flag
6. Assorted Jelly Beans
7. Awful Waffle
8. The Black Eyed Peas (On a non-stop loooooooooooooooop)
9. Blink 182
10. Bouncing Souls
11. Brain Failure
12. The Casualties
13. The Coral
14. The Darkness
15. Dillinger Four
16. Five Iron Frenzy
17. Foo Fighters
18. The Generators
19. Good Charlotte
20. Green Day
21. Gimp
22. Gogol Bordello
23. Hannah Montana
24. High School Football Heroes
25. Inspector Hector
26. Jimmy Eat World
27. Jurassic 5
28. Justin Beiber (not even bothering to see if I spelled this right)
29. Lady Gaga
30. Limp Bizkit
31. Lynyrd Skynyrd
32. MU330
33. No Use For A Name
34. NSYNC
35. O-Town
36. Pearl Jam
37. Puddle of Mudd
38. Oinog Boingo
39. Queen
40. Radiohead
41. Simple Plan
42. Smash Mouth's first album
43. Smash Mouth's subsequent albums
44. Staind
45. Strike Anywhere
46. Strung Out
47. Sugar Ray
48. Sum 41
49. Swingin Utters
50. TATU
51. U2
52. The Unseen
53. Yellowcard
54. Half the bands on Romo's list I don't already listen to
55. The other half of the bands on Romo's list I don't already listen to

So in the comments I'll have the not too surprising answer key

#2: Big D & the Kids Table

And dinner today sure costs a lot when 28 bucks is all you got

At number two is Big D & the Kids table. A nice lengthy post will follow.

Wiki Says: Big D and the Kids Table is a third wave ska band formed in October 1995 in Allston, Massachusetts when its members converged in college. Their first release was on their own Fork In Hand Records label, but have since teamed with Springman Records and SideOneDummy. The band has been noted for its strict DIY work ethic, such as engineering, producing, and releasing their own albums and videos and self-promotion of their own shows.

In 2000 the band recorded a gangsta rap album, Porch Life, and distributed it unofficially via cassette tape. In 2003 the album was officially released on CD through Fork In Hand. They have also recorded splits with Melt Banana, Brain Failure, and Drexel.

Big D and the Kids Table have played 200 shows a year, on average, in support of such bands as Less Than Jake, Streetlight Manifesto, Catch 22, The Mighty Mighty Bosstones, Dropkick Murphys, Voodoo Glow Skulls, Mustard Plug, The Pietasters, Rancid, Alexisonfire, Reel Big Fish, and Anti-Flag and have become a regular performer on the Warped Tour. The band has also performed in the Summer of Ska Tour 2006 and the Ska Is Dead tour.

In the fall and winter of 2007 the band embarked on their first-ever large scale headlining tour, The Steady Riot Tour, named after the 2007 release.

Discovery: Shot By Lammi (1997) -Split with Drexel
Good Luck (1999) -Favorite album all time #22
Gipsy Hill EP (2002)
How It Goes (2004) -Favorite album all time #1
Strictly Rude (2007)
Fluent In Stroll (2009)
The Damned, The Dumb, and the Delirious (2010) -Upcoming

Other Releases: Porch Life (2003)

Rocky Horror Punk Show (2003)

Look What You've Done (2003)
Split 7" (2003)
Salem Girls (2005)

Beijing to Boston (2007)

Noise Complaint EP (2007)

Wicked Hardcore Christmas (2009)

Favorite Songs: 30. Souped-Up Vinyl

29. Dirt Lip

28. A Moment Without An End

27. Good Luck

26. Shining On

25. Hey

24. Chicago

23. 51 Gardner

22. Steady Riot

21. Taking Back the Rhythm

20. Wailing Paddle (Rudiments Cover)

19. In Front of Me

18. Noise Complaint

17. You're Lost, You're Crazy

16. Those Kids Suck

15. Draw the Line

14. Girls Against Drunk Bitches

13. Conserve

12. 5 Kids Down

11. Evil Girl/Angry Girl

10. My Girlfriend's On Drugs

9. Cutshow

8. She Won't Ever Figure It Out

7. New Nail Bed

6. Myself -Favorite song all time #49

5. Checklist -Favorite song all time #43

4. Faded -#29

3. Little Bitch -#21 (Specials cover)

2. L.A.X -#15

1. If We Want To -#1

Years Active: 1995-Present

Seen Live: 7 times

May 2005-Montclair, NJ

August 2005-Montclair, NJ

July 2006-Asbury Park, NJ

July 2007-Englishtown, NJ

December 2007-Sayerville, NJ

December 2008-Boston, MA

July 2009-Oceanport, NJ

I've beaten to death my feelings about Big D & the Kids Table. I've said bad things here, here, and here. I've also sung my praises here, and here. Big D has put out my favorite album ever and recorded my favorite song. They also put out a disappointing Steady Riot and a horrible Fluent In Stroll and long with being a real let down live. But I can put that behind me. The songs I've heard from the new record have gotten me excited, and I have faith that maybe one day they can restore my love for them. A way to explain Big D's downfall in my heart is with their DVD. A video on Youtube from 2007 there is a mention that it was filmed when taking a break from making said DVD. It has not come out yet. Big D was my first show, and played until literally their equipment broke. I skipped a show of them in Baltimore to watch game 6 of the 2009 World Series...no regrets. That aside, I can't wait for their new material and will always love their old stuff.

Up Next: Bands that didn't quite make the cut

#3: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones

WHAAAAAAAAAAAAAA?!?! WHAT ARE THESE NOISES?!?!?!?!

Next are the Mighty Mighty Bosstones, the bad boys of plaid.

Wiki Says: The Mighty Mighty Bosstones are an American third wave ska band from Cambridge, Massachusetts.

Formed in 1983, the Bosstones are often credited with the creation of the ska-core genre, a form of music that mixes elements of third wave ska and hardcore punk. The band released seven full-length albums, three EPs and a live album while touring continuously before their announcement of a hiatus in December 2003. They reunited in the fall of 2007, and performed together for the first time in four years at Boston's Middle East club. The band has continued to tour and record since.

In December 2007, the band released a compilation album, Medium Rare, their first release since the band reunited earlier that year. The band released their first studio album in seven years, Pin Points and Gin Joints, on December 8, 2009.

Discovery: Devil's Night Out (1989)
More Noises and Other Disturbances (1992) - Favorite album all time #19
Don't Know How To Party (1993)
Question the Answers (1994)
Let's Face It (1997) -Favorite album all time #10
Pay Attention (2000)
A Jackknife to a Swan (2002)
Pin Points and Gin Joints (2009)

Other Releases: Where'd You Go? (1992)
Ska-Core, The Devil, and More (1993)
Kiss My Ass: Classic Kiss Regrooved (1994)
Live From the Middle East (1998)
Burning London -The Clash Tribute (1999)
A Santa Cause: It's a Punk Rock Christmas (2003)
Medium Rare (2007)

Soundtracks Worth Mentioning: Clueless (1995) -They appear in the movie
Meet the Deedles (1997)
Elmopalooza (1998)
Snow Day (2000)

Favorite Songs: 20. Another Drinking Song
19. Illegal Left
18. 1-2-8
17. Our Only Weapon
16. A Jackknife to a Swan
15. The Bartender's Song
14. Hope I Never Lose My Wallet
13. Howwhywuz, Howwhyam
12. Where'd You Go?
11. Someday I Suppose
10. Don't Know How to Party
9. Awfully Quiet
8. Doctor D
7. Devil's Night Out -Favorite song all time #99
6. Toxic Toast -Favorite song all time #58
5. Dogs and Chaplains -#46
4. Noise Brigade -#39
3. Kinder Words -#28
2. The Old School Off The Bright -#26
1. The Impression That I Get -#7

Years Active: 1983-2003, 2007-Present

Seen Live: 5 times
December 2007-Boston, MA
July 2008-Sayerville, NJ
December 2008-Boston, MA
August 2009-Asbury Park, NJ
August 2010-Washington, DC

The Bosstones are yet another band that I don't have much to say about. They've done great things over the years and people still love and respect them. They put on some of the best live shows and are still putting out new music. The music video I'm putting is one of my favorite videos. I'm also somewhere in the live video.

Up Next: The long time #1 favorite

#4: Rx Bandits

Because you can't see your cage doesn't mean that you are free

At number four are the Rx Bandits. Are you ready for some football?

Wiki Says: Rx Bandits is a four-piece band based in Seal Beach, California. The band formed in 1995 in Orange County, California. They have appeared on the Vans Warped Tour, at the Bonnaroo Music and Arts Festival, Coachella Valley Music and Arts Festival and at The Bamboozle.

Discovery: Those Damn Bandits (1997)

Halfway Between Here and There (1999)

Progress (2001) - Favorite album all time #5

The Resignation (2003)

...And the Battle Begun (2006) - Favorite album all time #8

Mandala

Other Releases: Demo(nstration) 1996

Ska Sucks (1998)

Punk Goes Metal (2000)

Rock Against Bush Vol. 1 (2004)

Dead Bands Party: A Tribute to Oingo Boingo (2005)

Listen To Bob Dylan: A Tribute (2005)

Live From Bannaroo (2007)

Favorite Songs: 20. Taking Chase As the Serpent Slithers

19. Anyone But You

18. Never Slept So Soundly

17. Newstand Rock (Exposition)

16. My Lonesome Only Friend

15. All The Time

14. Sell You Beautiful

13. Who Would've Thought

12. Overcome (The Recapitulation)

11. Consequential Apathy

10. Only For the Night

9. Status

8. VCG3

7/6. 1980/One Million Miles an Hour, Fast Asleep - Favorite songs all time #96/95

5. Decrescendo - Favorite song all time #70

4. Analog Boy - #60

3. To Our Unborn Daughters - #33

2. In Her Drawer - #14

1. And The Battle Begun -#2

Years Active: 1995-Present

Seen Live: Twice

April 2007-Montclair State University

November 2007-Baltimore, MD

Several ska bands that came out of the 90's played less ska as time went along and became pretty bad. Rx Bandits are the complete opposite. Their first albums is a very local sounding small ska band album. Their next one is more serious and still very ska. Their next one, Progress, is very ska and very serious and mature. The Resignation has much less ska, as does ...And the Battle Begun. Despite that, those albums are excellent on their own way. Songs about as important topics as possible and just keep getting better. While Mandala was a big disappointment (one ska song with horns being a factor), it's still really good and better than the average band's performance. I don't think I've ever seen a band put on as good of a show as Rx Bandits. Hopefully the live video I choose will capture this. The second live one is from 1997 and shows how much they changed in 10 years.

Up Next: Mighty! Mighty!

#5: Rise Against

Simply because you can breath doesn't mean you're alive or that you really lived

Kicking off the top 5 is Rise Against. This will feature Romo's last official shout out.

Wiki Says: Rise Against is an American punk rock band from Chicago, Illinois, formed in 1999. The band currently consists of Tim McIlrath (lead vocals, rhythm guitar), Zach Blair (lead guitar, backing vocals), Joe Principe (bass guitar, backing vocals) and Brandon Barnes (drums, percussion).

Rise Against spent its first five years signed to the independent record label Fat Wreck Chords, on which it released two studio albums, The Unraveling (2001) and Revolutions per Minute (2003). Both the albums met with considerable underground success and in 2003, the band signed onto the major label, Geffen.

The band's major label debut Siren Song of the Counter Culture brought the band mainstream success, producing several successful singles. The band's fourth studio album, The Sufferer & the Witness debuted at number ten on the Billboard 200 chart and received positive reviews from critics. The band's fifth studio album Appeal to Reason was released on October 7, 2008 and debuted at number three on the Billboard 200 chart. All three albums released via Geffen were certified platinum in Canada and gold in the United States. The band actively promotes animal rights and are all straight edge (excluding Barnes), PETA supporters and vegans .

Romo Says: Another band that I have yet to see live that I really must change. Rise Against is a punk band that has received a fairly decent mainstream play, particularly for the genre, and rightfully so.

Discovery: The Unraveling (2001)
Revolutions Per Minute (2003) - Favorite album all time # 16

Siren Song of the Counter Culture (2004)

The Sufferer & the Witness (2006) -Favorite album all time #11

Appeal to Reason (2008)

Other Releases: Live Fat, Die Young (2001)

Uncontrollable Fatulence (2002)

OIL: Chicago Punk Refined (2003)

Rock Against Bush vol. 1 (2004)

Making Christmas (2008)

Little Dimebags (2008)

Favorite Songs: 20. Hero of War

19. The First Drop

18. Collapse (Post Amerika)

17. Heaven Knows

16. Bricks

15. Halfway There

14. Give It All

13. State of the Union

12. Under the Knife

11. Intro/Chamber the Cartridge

10. Black Masks & Gasoline

9. The Approaching Curve

8. Rumors of My Demise Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

7. Like the Angel

6. Injection - Favorite song all time #89

5. Broken English - Favorite song all time #86

4. Drones - #53

3. The Good Left Undone - #45

2. Survive - #40

1. The Dirt Whispered -#27

Years Active: 1999-Present

Seen Live: Once - November 2008 (Baltimore, MD)

Although I've only seen Rise Against once, I still consider them one of the best bands I've ever seen live. That set was just that powerful, just like the rest of their music. I chose that quote at that top of the post because it is the opening to their second album (the first I bought back in May of 2004), Revolutions Per Minute. I can still remember putting that CD on and hanging out in my room. From the first time I heard those words to this day, I still get a little chill, it is just that powerful of an album. Who cares if they're on a major label, they still play great punk and keep to their roots both musically and politically. I've always loved how Tim can mix soft vocals with hardcore punk screams with ease in theirs songs. A great showcase of that is that "Swing Life Away" and "State of the Union" are on the same album. Listening to them separate you'd never know they were by the same band.

Up Next: Probably the most talented band that I listen to.

#6: Less Than Jake

My American dream is to have it a little bit better than my parents ever had it

Next is Less Than Jake, who were for a while back in high school my #1 favorite.

Wiki Says: Less Than Jake is an American ska punk band from Gainesville, Florida. Originally formed in 1992 as a power pop trio, the band evolved into a hybrid of ska punk. Less Than Jake have also been cited as showing influences from a wide variety of genres including post-grunge, heavy metal, alternative rock, third wave ska, punk pop and punk revival. To date, the group has released eight full-length studio albums and a number of singles and compilations. The current lineup comprises guitarist/vocalist Chris Demakes, bassist/vocalist Roger Manganelli, drummer/lyricist Vinnie Fiorello, trombonist Buddy Schaub and saxophonist Peter "JR" Wasilewski.

On June 24, 2008 the band released their latest studio album, GNV FLA, on their own label Sleep It Off Records.

Discovery: Pezcore (1995)
Losing Streak (1996) -Favorite album all time #14
Hello Rockview (1998)
Borders and Boundaries (2000)
Anthem (2003) -Favorite album all time #20
In With the Out Crowd (2006)
GNV FLA (2008) -#18

Other Releases: Losers, Kings, and Things We Don't Understand (1996)
Greased (1997)
Goodburger Soundtrack (1997)
Goodbye Blue and White (2002)
Rock Against Bush vol. 1 (2004)
B is for B-Sides (2004)
Absolution for Idiots and Addicts (2006)

Favorite Songs: 20. We're All Dudes (Featuring Kel Mitchell)
19. Devil in My DNA
18. Escape From the A-Bomb House
17. Dopeman
16. National Anthem
15. Short On Ideas
14. Shindo
13. The Brightest Bulb Has Burned Out/Screws Fall Out
12. 107
11. City of Gainesville/The State of Florida
10. Automatic
9. My Very Own Flag
8. How's My Driving
7. All My Best Friends Are Metal Heads
6. Plastic Cup Politics
5. The Last One Out of Liberty City
4. Look What Happened
3. Al's War
2. Best Wishes To Your Black Lung
1. Johnny Quest (Thinks We're Sellouts) -Favorite song all time #10

Years Active: 1992-Present

Seen Live: 4 times
July 2007-Sayerville, NJ
April 2008-Baltimore, MD
July 2009-Oceanport, NJ
June 2010-Baltimore, MD

Once again a top 10 band with only 1 top 100 favorite song. Less Than Jake is great on a much larger scale, hence why they have 3 of my top 25 favorite albums. I have 174 tracks by them on my iTunes, by far the most by any band. Their first 3 albums were of the big ska craze and very much some of the better ska-punk albums out there. Then they went a bit more pop-y following the fade of the ska craze. Then they went to a major label and put out a great pop-punk with horns (and still some ska) album, but a very non-LTJ sounding cd. Anthem is great if you look at it for what it is, fun, fast songs with horns, some ska. Their next full length was pretty horrible, and they know it and joke about it. Upon their release from the major label and starting their own they've gone back to their older sounds of fast ska/punk and it has been great.

Up Next: Another band I found through Tony Hawk's Underground.

#7: Reel Big Fish

Ain't got no reason to be so bad except that I'm poor, untalented, and ugly

Next is Reel Big Fish. Loyola has twice failed at booking them.

Wiki Says: Reel Big Fish is an American ska punk band from Huntington Beach, California, best known for the 1997 hit "Sell Out". The band gained mainstream recognition in the mid-to-late 1990s, during the third wave of ska with the release of the album Turn the Radio Off. Founding member Aaron Barrett has been with the band since 1992, and horn players Dan Regan and Scott Klopfenstein have been involved with the band for more than 15 years.

Discovery: Everything Sucks (1995)
Turn the Radio Off (1996) - Favorite album all time #12
Why Do They Rock So Hard? (1998)
Cheer Up! (2002)
We're Not Happy 'til You're No Happy (2005)
Monkeys for Nothin' and the Chimps for Free (2007)
Fame, Fortune, and Fornication (2009)

Other Releases: Take Warning: Songs of Operation Ivy (1997)
Viva La Internet (2000/2008)
Dead Band's Party: A Tribute to Oingo Boingo (2005)
Duet All Night Long (2007)
Our Live Album is Better than Your Live Album (2006)
A Best of Us for the Rest of Us (2010)

Favorite Songs: 20. Hate You
19. Your Guts (I Hate 'em)
18. I Want Your Girlfriend to Be My Girlfriend Too
17. The Fire
16. Turn The Radio Off
15. Join the Club
14. The Set Up (You Need This)
13. Somebody Hates Me
12. Take On Me -Ah Ha Cover
11. Cheer Up
10. I'm Her Man
9. Down In Flames
8. Trendy
7. She Has A Girlfriend Now
6. Don't Start a Band
5. All I Want Is More
4. Everything Sucks
3. Drinkin' -Favorite song all time #68
2. Sell Out -Favorite song all time #37
1. Beer -#6

Years Active: 1992-Present

Seen Live: 4 times
July 2007-Sayerville, NJ
May 2008-Johns Hopkins University, Baltimore, MD
July 2008-Englishtown, NJ
July 2009-Sayerville, NJ

Reel Big Fish made a bold move. After being ripped for "selling out", they stuck with ska and are still very active. They left Jive to make their own label and have enjoyed themselves ever since. They're not the greatest band ever, and I'd say they're more "fun" live than "good". But that fun goes a long way. I don't really care they're not the most respected band out there. I still enjoy seeing them and will continue to support them.

Up Next: A band that is pretty comparable to Reel Big Fish, but still different in many ways.