#they were the opening act when I went to see Jessie J and fell in love with them ever since

[erenblogs1]

Jack and Jack a pop-rap duo based in Los Angeles California with the members Jack Johnson (22, rap) and Jack Gilinsky (22, lead vocals) came to Switzerland on the 26th of February with their Good Friends Are Nice Tour. Thanks to ABC Production I had the privilege to see them live in X-TRA in Zurich. Jack and Jack are best friends since kindergarten. They first got attention on Vine with their short comedy videos in 2013. Since 2014 they have released independently several singles and EPs. I first noticed them with their song “Beg” released in 2017, especially the acoustic version with Olivia O’Brien. I also discovered their collaboration with Madison Beer for the song “All For Love” last year and I fell in love with it right away. Since then I started following them and with the release of their debut album “A Good Friend Is Nice”, released on the 25th of January, I can say that I’m a fan. Their new music is great the album has maybe one filler and all the other 11 have potential to become a single. I have the same age as them and I can relate to their new songs since they write more about mature content. Therefore, I didn’t want to miss the chance to see these two talented young men live.

On the concert day, the door opening was at 7 p.m. and I was already in the queue at 6.20 p.m. This time I went on my own as a music blogger. The first thing I could notice was that I was mostly surrounded by teenage girls. I felt a bit out of place but it’s always interesting to analyze the audience of an artist. When they let us into the building two things shocked me. Frist the merch was sold out, they provided a special scan code for us to order the merch online. The second thing was that since there were almost no men around the girls didn’t hesitate to use men’s bathroom too. It was so uncomfortable for me to go in there. Later on, I had to wait until 8 p.m. for the show to start. At 7.50 p.m. when I looked around, I could see that the venue was only half full and I just counted about 10 men. I also had seen Jessie J and Jason Derulo on the same stage some years ago and I remember how full the venue was with these artists. Jack and Jack can definitely get more Swiss fans.

Support Act

Jack and Jack took the English London based trop-pop artist Casey Lowry on the road for their European tour. Casey promoted his debut EP “Beach Blue”, which was released in November last year. He appeared in a long black coat on stage and his band members in cool orange-grey Hawaii shirts. Casey asked us to jump several times especially during the song “Trampoline”. He also covered “Baby” by Justin Bieber and all the girls went crazy and everyone was singing along. He and his bandmates definitely warmed the crowd up for 30 minutes starting at 8 p.m. Some teenage girls were screaming and holding posters with demands like “Take off your T-shirt” and “Twerk”, he had to laugh every time he noticed the posters. Therefore, he couldn’t really concentrate on his performance and was distracted a lot, or maybe he was just nervous. However, Casey and his bandmates had great energy on stage and a likable charisma. You should definitely check them out.

Performance of Jack and Jack

At 9 p.m. it was finally time for Jack and Jack, they opened the show with their pop-ballad “Promise Me” during which Gilinsky presented his amazing high vocals. They both looked chic, Gilinsky with his black suit trousers combined with a white T-shirt and Johnson in a black outfit wearing a denim jacket.

Then I fell in love with the song “Closure”, a single released last year. I must say that I slept on it, also on “Stay With Me” both are nice pop-ballads. As a new fan, I was proud to be able to sing along during “Barcelona”. Afterward, they performed a medley formed by a couple of their first singles released in 2014. I have never felt so much lost during a concert before. I didn’t know these songs at all. Usually, I listen to the entire setlist in advance. But for this concert I didn’t want to do it, I wanted to be surprised. I can say that at least the fans since day one had a great time with this throwback.

When they performed the acoustic version of “Beg” it was my time to be proud to have discovered them with this song. It was a pleasing acoustic performance and Gilinsky topped it with his acoustic cover of “when the party’s over” by Billie Eilish. He mentioned that it’s his favorite song at the moment. And I just saw Billie live two weeks ago performing this single at the Swiss Music Awards. I must say that Jack’s cover was as good as the original version. Billie and Jack should definitely do a remix together.

They had a lot of entertaining interactions between themselves and with the audience now and then. Johnson even took the mic and asked fans in the front row to say sentences in Swiss-German. He then tried to translate them in English, he did it every time correctly. Some fans traveled from the French-speaking cities of Switzerland to Zurich, so they asked things in French. It was an amusing and enjoyable moment for everyone. Gilinsky also reacted to the poster with the lines “take off your T-shirt” by reading it out loud and answering with a clear and loud “No”.

With the Billie Eilish cover, the concert just got started for me since they performed my other favorite songs from their album next. Of course, their hit single “No One Compares To You”, which they dedicated to the fans. And then my all-time favorite song by them, which is “Meet U In The Sky”. Especially with this song they take me to musical dimensions I didn’t know they have existed. This song gives me summer and dance vibes, the lyrics, the melodies, and the rhymes are so pleasant to me. It’s a masterpiece for my ears. After that I enjoyed the sexual vibes during “Tension”, followed by “Day Dreaming” and “Lotta Love”, I love them all. After the slow song “April Gloom” which points out profound lyrics they closed the show with their well-known hit single “Rise”. Johnson held a Swiss flag and then they slowly left the stage.

I wasn’t expecting any other better song to close the show but there was one song missing they haven’t performed yet. A fan favorite and also probably one of the most personal and emotional songs. I’m talking about “2 Cigarettes”, a song about a failed relationship. Therefore, I knew there must be an encore. A few minutes later Gilinsky and Johnson appeared again on the stage. Johnson was already shirtless and Gilinsky took his T-shirt during the bridge of the song. All the girls were screaming as if the world ends. They both presented what they were working for in the gym for months. It was probably the highlight of the concert for many girls.

Jack Johnson the rapper of the duo rapped almost in every song. I was astonished how good he can rap live on stage. He also played the keys during several songs. They both were adorable and they are a great example of a nice friendship between two young men. They both are living their dreams, traveling all around the world and what a great opportunity to share it with your best friend. I have nothing to criticize about them. Check out their newly released debut album “A Good Friend Is Nice” you will definitely like it.

After the concert, Casey Lowry and his bandmates took pictures with the fans at the merch stand. I bought his EP and let him sign it. He was very friendly and also a bit bewildered. I also had the chance to take a selfie with him but it turned out bad, I had to edit it a lot but here we go I didn’t want to hold it back from you. All in all, it was a great night, an unforgettable experience. I want to thank ABC Production again for having me at this concert. Let me know in the comment section if you have seen them live on tour and tell me your highlight of the concert. Also, check out my Instagram @erenblogs for more footage of the concert.

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[karenmessy-blog]

MASTERPIECE

“I still fall on my face sometimes and I can’t color inside the lines ‘cause I’m perfectly incomplete, I’m still working on my masterpiece,” a woman sings it in a normal tone with her earphones on and sets it to a highest volume while sitting on a wooden chair at the terrace of her room, facing the lively green trees dancing by the wind “And I, I wanna hang with the greats got a way to go, but it’s worth the wait no, you haven’t seen the best of me,  I’m still working on my masterpiece” as she continues singing it. ‘Masterpiece’ by Jessie J is the music she keeps on playing despite those hundreds of music she has on her phone. Her room has a terrace where she stays when she wants to think or look back memories. The view is perfect to relax and reminisce old times. There are three huge Narra trees in front of it. Ten steps to the right of the trees is a river while to its left side are different kinds of flowers like daffodils, sunflowers, tulips, roses and other odd flowers which are not well arranged but look cool as its diverse colors merge together.

“What is my masterpiece?” Kartesha asked herself while listening to the song. She is tall, straight – blonde hair, pointed nose, having curled eyelashes that complement her dark eyes and has a slender body.

“What is my masterpiece?” she asked again for the second time.

She still sitting on the wooden chair, watching the birds flying and trees keep on dancing along with the wind.

“What is my masterpiece?” she asked in the third time.

“They talk that blah blah, that la la, that rah rah s**t, go with the punches and take the hits,” she sings again along with the music. “Sometimes I mess up, I f – up, I swing and miss but it’s oka—“ she stops as her mother pulls the earphones abruptly.

“I called you so many times but you didn’t hear me” her mother said in a calm tone

“I’m sorry” she answered sadly.

“I was just so stress from work and it’s been 5 years now since I last seen you guys” she added. She is still sitting.

“Is it us? Or you just simply miss your room?” her mother mocked.

Kartesha is now 25 years old and working as a successful Civil Engineer to a well – known company located in a city. She filed a leave for a week just to go back to their province and visits her family. And also she is drown with the pressure at her job and decided to have a short vacation instead.

“Mother!” she shouted and they laugh together.

Her mother knows how important her room to her for reasons that all the stuffs in there are witness of her pain, grieves and loneliness before, but every negative has a counterpart of positive and that was happiness.

Her mirror was her first witnessed of her smile, her room echoed her laughter so many times, her bed almost broke its stands as she kept on rolling and jumping because she was happy and almost tore her pillows whenever she felt butterflies in her stomach but also absorbed gallons of tears from her eyes. The four – cornered room echoed billions of shout caused of her angriness, hundreds of broken things has been displayed despite its damages because those things were blotches of her uncontrollable acts rooted by her pains. Rest room she often showered for 1 to 2 hours just to cry and let the water brought with it those tears she shed, is still looks the same. Notebooks that were filled with her burdens and written thousands of hatred quotes years ago are place on her study table sets on the right side of her bed and her color pink walls that have stains of blood from her punches and kicks has not yet erase and been stayed there for years now.

All those agonies were because of someone who dumped her after she was used and played.

“Your father is looking for you. You know how much he misses you. Let’s go out and join them. Your brothers are playing guitar along with him” as her mother invites her.

Kartesha stops the music and stood. As they both heading out from her room, she sees the pink teddy bear and remembers how special that thing to her. And her painful past immediately flashbacks.

“Now I know your favorite color.” Karl commented on Kartesha’s post at Instabook.

She posted a photo of her wearing color pink dress and captioned ‘I love pink!’ with a heart.

They were Second Year College when they met. They both studied in the same school. Karl saw Kartesha at the school library and instantly attracted to her. Since then, he always went to the library just to see her even from a distance. Later on he found out that his gay board mate was Kartesha’s best friend. He asked Marlon, their mutual friend, to help him made friend with her. Marlon invited Karl to have lunch with them, Kartesha. The two became friends started that day. He always sent sweet messages that made her looked crazy as she read it, he often called just to check her if she was doing well, sent random video clips of him singing love songs and had lunch together every day.

“HAHAHA yeah” she replied

“I’ll find something cute pink stuff and give it to you soon” he replied back

One day, she received a text from Karl.

“Can you come out? I’m outside of your classroom”

She came out even they had a class and saw Karl holding a 3 – feet long pink teddy bear.

“For the most beautiful girl exist” he said as he handed it to her. “Wow you’re so sweet. Thank you!” then she hugged him so tight.

Kartesha couldn’t help herself but to fell in love with his actions. Karl was not just sweet, he was handsome too. He was tall, no beard, pointed nose, white skin and had a pinkish lips that could make every girl droll upon starring at it.

“I love you Karl” Kartesha could no longer hid her true feelings for him so she confessed.

They were sitting at the central park inside the campus. Karl didn’t talk. He remained quiet and kept on playing online game on his phone.

“Did you hear me?” Kartesha was trying to get his attention. “Karl?!” and she grabbed his phone.

“What are we?” she asked since she was confused with their status. They were sweet to each other but had no label. She was trying to clear vague things between them.

Kartesha never experienced that kind of feeling because she rejected all those guys who tried to court her since she was avoided by her parents.Not because she was too young for love, but because her heart was too weak for that. Karl for her was different and that she couldn’t stop herself from falling

“What are we?” he bounced back the question. “Why did you spring it back? Karl, please, can we clear this?” she begged. “Aren’t you happy with what we have?” he asked. “Of course I do, but its better if we know what we are” she answered. “That’s all that matters. We are happy, let’s keep it this way” and he smiled to her.

After that confession, Karl began to cold. He never texted her first like how he used to, he didn’t answer her calls and always seen her messages at instabook that made her cry each night.

She didn’t eat sometimes, woke up late and traces of her cries were clear. She always got late on her class and at times absent. Her parents began to worry about her.

“Princess, what’s wrong?” her father asked. “Nothing, I just want to embrace the cold night” she answered.

They were sitting at the terrace of her room.

“You know we are here, your mama, to listen to you” as her father tried to comfort her. “Do you remember --“

“Papa please, I want to be alone” as she cuts her father’s words. Her father felt sad because he knew his Princess was not okay. “I love you Tesh” he said and went out of her room.

Since Kartesha fell in love, she changed. She never had time with her family. She constantly locked herself in her room and kept on checking her phone.

Three weeks she never heard anything from Karl. She asked Marlon where he was since they were board mates but then even him, didn’t know.

One day, he saw a familiar figure walking towards a classroom. She followed him. When the man reached his destination, she secretly watched him from the door and found out that she was right, it was Karl. He was talking to a girl inside the classroom and kissed her. It was long passionate kiss. Kartesha was frozen as she watched them. Tears fell instantly from her eyes. The two stopped when they heard someone’s crying. Karl was shocked when he saw her. She ran and went home.  Karl didn’t follow her. She threw and destroyed all the things she saw in her room. Punched and kicked the walls, broke her lampshade, tore here pillows and so on. She shouted and screamed how much she hated him.

Her parents heard the noise and knocked unendingly her door. They begged her to open it yet she refused. She kept on shouting and screaming until she fainted.

When she woke up, the room was unfamiliar. It was painted white and had fewer decorations. She looked at her right side and saw her parents crying.

“What happened?” she asked as she woke up. They came closer to her and tried to put a smile on their faces. “Are you okay?” her mother asked. “I’m so happy you’re awake now. I thought we’ll lose you.” said by her father.

On her 2nd day in the hospital, a sudden visitor came. It was Karl. They both talked alone. Her parents left them.

“Tesh, I’m sorry” and his tears began to fall. “You shouldn’t be here. Probably you are happy and well if I didn’t come into your life. I did this to you Tesh, I destroy you” his tears kept on falling. “That girl you saw? She is actually my life,” she could no longer stop her tears when she heard the words my life. “We just broke up because she thought I cheated. I tried to explain everything to her but she didn’t listen. I was hurt and decided to have fun in order for me to forget her and there I saw you. I also wanted to find a replacement, for her to see that I am happy even without her. I just want to make her jealous so she will be back to me” his tears were still falling while he was explaining. “When she heard about us, she realized how much she loves me and asked for a second chance and I said yes” still his tears were dropping. “I regret of hurting you. Not because I have pity over you but because I already love you” hopes for their chance began to rebuild within her but devastated when he added “but I just love her even more. I’m sorry..”

Her heart started to pump faster right after he walked out of the room. She was catching her breath and her parents just arrived, called a doctor but whatever the doctor did, her eyes closed gradually.

That was the last time he saw Karl and never heard anything about him anymore.

Few days after, she finally awakes. She was discharged and decided to give herself a hand. She continued her studies and graduated. Even it was been 2 years had passed, she couldn’t forget him so she went to the city and tried to fix herself there few days after her graduation. She left her family without even thinking what would they feel if she will leave them and lives in the city like what she wanted for her own.

“Kartesha? Are you okay?”  her mother asked her when she noticed that she stops and stares the pink teddy bear above her pillows. “Yes, I’m okay. Let’s go now. They are waiting for us for sure” and they continue heading out from her room.

“It’s been 5 years now Princess since you left here. I miss you a lot” as her father speaks while fanning the hot dogs he grills.

They are having a little picnic at their backyard. Her two brothers are playing guitar while her mother is arranging their plates. Their day is full of happiness. No cries, just laugh.

Their fun stops as her father is having a heart attack. They brought him to the hospital but it is too late.

“Why you didn’t tell me he has a heart failure?” Kartesha asked her mother. “5 years I’ve gone and all those years he was sick but you didn’t tell me? Ma, why?!”

“We decided not to tell you because we were afraid you might be in danger if you knew about it. We didn’t want you to worry” her mother explained

“Danger? How can I when I’m totally well?”

“You know love is not for you because you have a heart disease but still you did it. When you were brought to the hospital, you were actually attacked by your disease. We felt relieved when you awake after you were attacked in your room. But at the second time, after you talked with Karl, it was worst. Your heart needed to be replaced by a healthier one but we can’t find a donor so your father sacrificed his and gave it since his was compatible to you”  her tears never stop falling. How much pain he felt for Karl before was triple from the pain she has now. “And he was using yours that is why we always brought him to the hospital since the day you left. He was so worry about you that made the heart more weaker” she feels like her heart grasp with pain as she listen to her mother. “he almost died several times as the heart is poisoning his body, but he fought because he waited for you to come home and have a family bonding like how we used to before you met that Karl. That was his only wish before he goes.”

After knowing the fact, she regretted all her selfish actions. She only did what she thought was best for herself that brought her father at risk.

She then realized that her, being a successful civil engineer and all those beautiful building designs were not her masterpiece after all. It is the love from her family. A masterpiece that cannot be seen but felt, and that she can treasures it forever.