S-Curve Records recording artist We the Kings stopped by Westfield Annapolis mall this week for an acoustic performance and signing.The "Hello My Name Is..." tour is hitting 13 Hot Topic stores and features acoustic performances from We the Kings, Hey Monday and Cash Cash.
It was kind of an odd setup, as the poor Hot Topic employees had to clear the front and back of the merchandise-packed store for the event. The store was closed for about 3 hours, and some kids waited in line for as long as 5 or 6 hours just to get an autograph. Kids were required to purchase a CD or T-shirt of one of the artists appearing in order to gain access to the event. The first 30 got to watch the performance, while up to 300 could access the signing.Hot Topic and the band's management allowed me to take some video and interview a member of each band. You can see what I came up with here:
http://www.hometownannapolis.com/video/1232146675WetheKingsperformatWestfieldAnnapolis

Of the three bands, I was only familiar with We the Kings. Though I'll certainly never be in line to purchase any albums, I have to say the band, along with Hey Monday, impressed me acoustically.It's impressive to me when someone can sing without amplification in a room that needed to be filled-out. It could have been easy for vocals to get lost in that high ceiling in the store, as Cash Cash singer J.P.'s voice did. Cassadee from Hey Monday recognized what was happening and adjusted her vocals accordingly. Cash Cash played "Party in Your Bedroom" and "Breakout." A lot of little girls seemed to really like them, but I cant see this band being enjoyable to anyone over 15. And my feelings were intensified when I heard the recorded versions of those two songs. Add goofy programming, vocal effects and cheesy funk riffs to the mix and I'm officially underwhelmed. They are like an even worse Hellogoodbye.We the Kings and Hey Monday are clearly destined for big success in this realm of music. The song writing is solid, and I'd say that both straddle the line between cheese and earnest songwriting to make it in pop music, despite being unoriginal. Hey Monday is the next Paramore, while We the Kings are the next Boys Like Girls or The Academy Is... They both sounded better in the stripped down performance than recorded.
Hey Monday played "Homecoming" and "How you Love Me Now ." We the Kings played "Check Yes Juliet" "Skyline Drive" and "Secret Valentine." I should have full songs by the bands up on my Flickr page soon.All three bands write and record teeny-bopper mall rock -- a little nicer than the "suck-rock," as a friend called them -- so, accordingly, the halls were packed with kids mostly aged 14- 19.I talked to a girl from Waldorf who went to the band's hometown show in Bradenton, Fla. not too long ago. That's dedication. And the super-fan didn't even get to see the in-store because she didn't find out before the first 30 items were sold.
A few Arundel High girls from Crofton waited in line 3 hours to get to talk to Cash Cash and Hey Monday. Even some mothers were getting in on the fun. I talked to fans who even drove in from Baltimore and Washington D.C. I wonder how they got out of school in time.

All three bands will be back in the area in the coming months:

We the Kings will be at the Recher Theatre in Towson April 28 as part of the Bamboozle Road Show. Other bands playing are: Forever the Sickest Kids, The Cab, Never Shout Never and Mercy Mercedes.

Hey Monday will perform April 25 at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia with Fall Out Boy, Cobra Starship, All Time Low and Metro Station.

Cash Cash will play Feb. 5 at the Rock and Roll Hotel in Washington, D.C. with Millionaires and I Set My Friends On Fire.