Shutterbug (With Vic Fuentes and Niall Horan)

Shutterbug

Music is more than just beats behind some rhyming words.  Music is a way of self expression, rebellion, a defining factor in a personality. Music like this began to become these things in the early 50's; starting with one of the most popular "rebels" that is still known today, ladies and gentlemen, all hail, the King. " 

When Elvis Presley preformed his song "Hound Dog", society labeled it "Devil Music" because the beat was unlike any other music at the time.  However, it was not only the beat and the words that caused such behavior, it was the slow rotation of the hips Mr. Presley demonstrated on stage.  Said movement was an inappropriate gesture to be done at the time.

I sat back in my chair and re-read the words before me; searching for another way to descirbe the setting of the 50's.  My advisor is never going to accept this without there being research to back up my accusations.  I can just hear him now, what else was going on in that period to make the people act like this, why wasn't this an appropriate movement? 

I'm not entirely clear where my research paper is going, i was aiming for more of ho0w the music and words change as new times set in, music through the ages.  I, Lennon Marshal a soon to be high school senior, am not going to half-ass my first story at my internship with Warner Brothers Music.

My internship is for the website  page; where each month a new story about one of the signed bands.  But this year Warner Bros is throwing a tour called "Genre Fest".  it's where all types bands (signed to Warner or not) go on a month long tour across the US.  It's targeted at music lovers of all genres.  the difference between this tour and any other is that there might be 50 bands but they rotate different bands different days, example: your band might play only Monday and Thursday, call it shuffling if you will.  And the fun part is, the concert goers never know who is going to play that day. 

Anyway, i was assigned to go on this tour, all month long, and find relation from music today to music in the past.  And since the 50's were an iconic music decade, i decided to start there.  Not only am i supposed to write an essay about the music, i am also in charge of keeping the blog updated with pictures, videos and interviews.

I shut my laptop and put it in the case figureing i'll try again tomorrow after the first day of the tour was done.  who knows, i might just find the inspiration im looking for.  crossing my room, i glance over the list of bands, a lot of the band i listen to are on here.  All Time Low is going to be doing a couple shows, Sleeping with Sirens, Pierce the Veil even Maroon 5.  Excited would be an understatement. I had to do a double take, what was One direction doing on this list?  They're the complete opposite of the band listed above them.  But i guess that was the point of the tour. 

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I show up to the front of the Warner Brother's building where the "Waner Bros crew bus" was waiting.  This is going to be my home for the next month, along with Ms. Shelly, my advisor and Jonas, the creator of the tour. 

"Ready shutterbug?" Shelly asked placing a hand on my back.

"Ready as ever."  i said with a smile and a sligh sigh.

Today was the first show of the tour in Burbank California we only had about an hour or two until the doors open so i am a little confused as to why we haven't left yet.  I guess the stages were set up over night and the first bands to play are to report to stage an hour before door open for sound check.  So we have a little time to spare.

While we're on the bus we set up our bunks and claim certain spaces.  when we're done i sit at the small side table with my camera, making sure it's all ready to go.  My thoughts are interrupted when a laminated rectangle is slapped down before me.  i look up in confusion.

"It's your laminate"  Jonas says as he sit across from me.  "You have to wear it at all times if you want to get in the scurity pit and backstage.  it's just to let people know you're with the tour."  i nodd in understandment when he hands me another peice of paper.  i read Line Up: Day 1, July 1st at the top of the paper. "Here are the bands playing today with times and what stages. and on the back is a map of the stages and where each band's table is.  Make sure you have your phone because either Shelly or myself will text you meet and greet times for band's participating today."

"okay, sounds good."  i say trying not to sound over excited.  i study the list, "So Styx is still touring, huh?"  i say with a laugh.  jonas nods and goes to talk to the driver.  i make a mental note to a couple of certain bands today.  I'll start with Styx at noon, maybe get an interview in later.  No matter what bands i check off to see in my head, my eyes keep going back to One Direction written in at the 2:00 spot.  okay, i guess i'll swing by just to see what they're about.  But im not going to stand in the crowd, i'll have to watch from backstage, i know how teens get when One Direction is mentioned, let alone in a 50 yard radius.