What does this band not rock?! In the past month alone Neon Trees dominated Bonnaroo, as well as London’s Wireless Festival and iTunes Festival. This Friday they’ll take over the Sandbar at the Red Rock and an acoustic set in the Mix Underground Lounge. Listen all week to win tickets and check out this gallery to prepare yourself for their incredible live performance![For more, including how to win tickets, visit Mix 94.1 FM]
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| Photo: iTunes Festival 2011 |
Neon Trees have been a breakout pop success in the past year, even dating back to when Blink-182 bassist Mark Hoppus wrote about them in his SPIN.com column. Now, they’ve got two new notable projects on the horizon.[To read more of the interview and see other things from Bonnaroo, visit Backstage At Bonnaroo]
Frontman Tyler Glenn worked on a song for Black Cards, the new band featuring Fall Out Boy’s Pete Wentz. “It’s cool, I’ve heard it, and I don’t know when it’s being released,” he said of the collabo. “I love their jazzy pop thing, and I’m glad he’s working on new music.”
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| Photo by Aaron Richter |
Last month we caught up with Tyler and Brandon from Neon Trees and got a few festival survival tips--looks like they took their own advice, because they looked fresh-faced and ready to conquer the stage on the last day of Bonnaroo.
Utah’s Neon Trees were one of the odder acts performing on a tent stage at Bonnaroo in 2011 — in that they’re one of the most accessible. Sure, you have hit-making headliners like Eminem on the big stages, but counterculture figures tend to rule the tents of the ‘Roo.[To read more of the review, visit Blog.Tennessean]
Neon Trees, on the other hand, had a huge pop hit last year with “Animal,” a sassy, Strokes-owing rock anthem that was even covered by the Glee kids. But the massive turnout for the band’s Sunday afternoon set offered another sign that today’s young music fans just aren’t cynical about success like they used to be.
Bare Trees: Other than the headlining acts, many of the bands that play Bonnaroo build their careers without the luxury of top 40 radio play. That's not the case for Utah's Neon Trees, whose Sunday afternoon set of '80s-inspired pop-rock included hits Your Surrender, 1983 and Animal. Singer Tyler Glenn did a striptease throughout the show, first removing a faux-fur vest, then, during Animal, dropping trou to reveal red, white and blue boxer briefs. "Don't stare at me 'cause I'm in my underwear, it's (expletive) hot out here," he told the audience. "I suggest you take your clothes off, too."[To read more about Bonnaroo 2011 and the artists, visit USA Today here and here]
Bonnaroo 2011 came down from its Saturday high with an epic Widespread Panic set, a subdued Strokes one and an abbreviated one by Dallas Mavericks fans Explosions in the Sky. Offstage, fans led dance circles, chipped in for Neon Trees and snatched up merch and artist-tossed banana peels. Here are 10 highlights from the fest's closing day:[To read the 10 highlights, including Neon Trees' #6 highlight, visit Billboard]
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| Getty Images via Billboard.com |
