Who doesn’t love a good summer road trip? Especially if that road trip involves music. And I’m not just talking about turning up some old-school Madonna and rocking out in the car; I’m talking about days and days of awesome live music once you reach your destination.

Concerts are fun, but outdoor music festivals are memorable. They are life experiences. And they give you a lot more music bang for your buck. Looking to get away this summer? Why not grab some friends, pack up the car and head out to the biggest music festivals of the summer. Trust me, you don’t want to miss out. And if you’re lucky, you might even be able to hit them all! Read More »

Ah, summer. It’s so close I can taste it.

And hear it?

Days on the beach, drinks on patios, and BBQs with friends. And music, lots of music. One of the very best things about summer is going to outdoor concerts.  And there are so many amazing tours this summer, I have a feeling I’m going to be at a concert pretty much every single week. And concerts mean music, beer, and friends. Which is pretty much heaven for me. Here are some of the biggest and best summer tours you should keep your eye (and ear) on. Read More »

I spent the better part of high school going to Backstreet Boys concerts. I made posters, convinced my mom to buy me hideous and overpriced concert gear (including a shimmery jean jacket with a studded gold “Backstreet Boys” on the back that I just HAD to have… I kid you not). I was smitten. I would daydream in Algebra class that they would just swoop into my school and serenade me (never happened), or that I would sit front row at their concerts (happened a few times thanks to my knack for sneaking up).

And while I grew up, and my musical repertoire changed, I have always held a soft spot for the Backstreet Boys. Maybe it’s that sweet pang of nostalgia, but the Boys gave me an escape, they started my love affair with music, and it would only be fair to admit that they even, in a way, helped start me on my career path in music, journalism and TV. Oh and their music is undeniably catchy.

So while people still give them flack and mainstream U.S. media doesn’t cover them nearly at all, there is no denying that the Backstreet Boys make you want to sing in your car. I’ve seen you (yes, YOU) at the bar belting out ‘I Want It That Way’ at 2am on Friday nights.

Their concerts are still packed with screaming girls, from 8-68. And it doesn’t hurt that despite losing a member, these Boys have only gotten sexier with age. Sounds too good to be true? Check out some footage CC shot at a BSB concert this past summer in Detroit: Read More »

It’s time for some teen talk. There’s a whole new generation of teenybopper superstars, and it’s time for us college ladies to get aquainted with them. Miley Cyrus seems to be at the crest of the fame wave, but can Taylor Swift be far behind?

While Hannah Montana star Miley Cyrus has been on the radar of the ‘tween set for quite some time, she really became a mega-uber-superstar in the course of the last year. It’s been a good twelve months since I first started hearing her single, “See You Again,” blasting from every room on my hall.  She made headlines when famed photographer Annie Lebowitz shot questionably tasteful photos of her for Vanity Fair. With a fiercely devoted fan base, bestselling albums and a movie and memoir in the works, you’d think Miley was the certified Queen of the Teenyboppers, pink tiara and all.

But not so fast, Hannah Montana. There’s another gal in town who’s ready to knock the spurs off your rockstar cowboy boots. Taylor Swift has been garnering press left and right about her sophisticated music and style. She’s been called the “most remarkable country music breakthrough artist of the decade,” and has upheld the honor by promising not to end up in rehab like some of her musician peers. And while she’s determined to stay out of the tabloids, she hasn’t always been successful–her tumultuous breakup with Joe Jonas has been providing intense gossip fodder this week.

So who is really on top of the tween rock scene? Billy Ray’s daughter steals the spotlight with her fun and kitschy persona, but Ms. Swift commands attention with her sweet and sincere lyrics. Who’s more likely to be rocking out on your iPod earbuds?

Just another reason to hate Keith Olberman and the rude ladies at The View.

We are so happy that Holly Madison isn’t hung up on Hef anymore.

Mod makeup has been popular since the 1960s and is back again.

Apparently, being a lesbian is way worse than being bi.

The Super Bowl is now going to wreck more women’s lives than usual.

Michelle and Barack Obama scoped out their new pad today.

Being green can be dangerous, especially for James Cromwell.

Watches, to wear or not to wear?

Oprah has taken over the world, well almost.

If only this worked to change water into wine too!

For a group of twenty-something young lads, the guys of Panic at the Disco have made quite a name for themselves. Their first album, A Fever You Can’t Sweat Out, went double platinum. Before they were even 20 years old, the guys were blowing up the stage at the MTV Video Music Awards. And now, three years later, Panic (no more exclamation point) at the Disco is touring the world with Pretty. Odd., their wildly successful new album.

CollegeCandy got to sit down with Jon Walker, Panic’s super hot and talented bassist, to find out the secrets behind the music, how the band is handling all the success and just what a group of guys does on a giant tour bus. (Well, CollegeCandy was actually lying on the couch, but we assume Jon was sitting down on the other end of the line…)

CC: So, you guys are back on the road again. How is the tour going?

Jon: This tour right now is actually really fun. The Hush Sound is a really great band and Phantom Planet is out on tour with us right now, as well, and they’re also a really great band. We’ve been on this tour for about 2 months now we have about three or four shows left. That’s pretty exciting.

CC: And what do you guys have coming up next?

Jon: We are wrapping up this tour and going over to Europe. That’s our main focus right now.

CC: Wow. The tour never ends. What do you like best about being on the road?

Jon: Just playing shows, I guess. It’s fun to be able to travel around with your friends and hang out everyday, but some days it’s not always that fun until you get on stage and remember why you are out here doing this.

CC: Yeah, I am sure being cooped up on a bus all day isn’t always so glamorous. What do you guys do all day to pass the time?

Jon: Well, luckily Nintendo recently came out with Mario Kart for the Wii. That’s really pretty much what we’ve been doing . We’ve been writing a lot as well on this tour and we’ve been trying to demo some songs. In between Mario Kart and demo-ing songs and sleep… that’s pretty much the top 3 things we do on the bus. Read More »

Apparently a group of Muslims in Malaysia are attempting to halt Gwen Stefani’s upcoming concert date. They have claimed that Gwen’s video clips promoting the event at Kuala Lumpur’s Putra Stadium on August 21 are too obscene and that the concert should be pulled all together.

There are actually 10,000 students that believe the show would clash with Asian values and more specifically Islamic. Believing that the company sponsoring the show, Maxis is responsible for exposing youth to a moral decay. Apparently Stefani is believed to contribute to the systemic erosion of morality in Malaysia when in the states we thought all she did was make great dance/rock music and design cute clothing lines.

Apparently a subject of great controversy “The Sweet Escape Tour” will not be escaping to Malaysia anytime soon. Stefani has cancelled the dates because of the stirring controversy being reported. But none the less Gwen has always been moral, never overly overtly sexual or disempowering. Read More »

Yoooo, I’ll tell you what I want what I really, really want … tickets to see the Spice Girls in concert.

Yes, I have always been a big advocate for the return of teeny-bopper bubblegum pop (and whether you want to admit it or not, you’re excited. Note: this CC article says it all).

So needless to say, I was pretty excited to hear that the Spice Girls have made their reunion official. Sporty, Posh, Baby, Ginger and Scary Spice are teaming up for an 11 date cross continent reunion tour. Kicking off December 7th in Los Angeles and ending January 20th in Cape Town, the Girls will hit the US in LA, Vegas (December 8th) and NYC (December 11th).

Want tickets? Not so fast. (Oh, and don’t pretend like you aren’t excited, nothing beats nostalgia). The Gals have set up a website where you can click the city where you would want to go see the show and fans will be chosen at random for who gets to buy the tickets. Read More »