Bangin' with Ashley By Ashley Massaro August 03, 2006 What up, ya punks? Welcome to the first edition of Bangin’ With Ashley! If you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time on this Web site. And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why we’re all here...but, after meeting a bunch of you WWE fans on the road, in airports, outside the arenas and getting to know you a little, I’m starting to realize that we have something else in common, too: a passion for music! What up, ya punks? Welcome to the first edition of Bangin’ With Ashley! If you’re anything like me, you spend a lot of time on this Web site. And it doesn’t take a genius to figure out why we’re all here...but, after meeting a bunch of you WWE fans on the road, in airports, outside the arenas and getting to know you a little, I’m starting to realize that we have something else in common, too: a passion for music! I feel like music is a huge part of the sports-entertainment world. From the fans wearing T-shirts of their favorite bands, to the Superstars who appear in the ring with their entrance themes blasting through the speakers of the arena, music is everywhere in WWE. For me, it’s been the center of my life. Through good times and bad times, music has always been there for me. So, I figured why not write a blog about it to let ya’ll know what’s runnin’ through the old iPod in Ashleyland. Ok, so here’s the deal. Every week I’m going to fill you in on what I’m listening to throughout the day, on the way to the arena, at the gym and on the 250-mile drive to the next city. I’ll also give you the inside scoop on what your favorite Superstars and Divas are listening to, and what I’ve been playing for the people I ride with. I’ll give you the lowdown on cool shows I’ll be checking out and bring back interviews with bands that I love. Give ya the inside scoop… So... first off on Ashley’s agenda is the Vans Warped Tour ’06 this Saturday at Nassau Coliseum in Long Island, N.Y.! Yeah!! Tons of awesome bands are scheduled to perform. Warped Tour goes on all Summer, and if you guys get the chance, you should totally check it out! They’ve got a great lineup this Summer. From AFI, to 30 Seconds to Mars, Aiden, Silverstein, HELMET, even Saves the Day ... almost every band on the bill finds its way to the most played section of my iPod. If you’ve never been to Warped Tour, you’re totally missing out. It’s def. one of my all-time favorite shows! There’s a bunch of bands playing in different spots at the same time, you get a list when you get in and check out the ones you like the best. Sometimes it’s hard ‘cuz you’ll have to choose between two bands you like, but I love the festival atmosphere. I mentioned in WWE Magazine how I went last year at Randall’s Island, N.Y. It was dirty and dusty and friggin’ awesome. Loved it. So Warped Tour should be amazing. Unfortunately, two of my favorite bands dropped off -- From First to Last and underOATH. The singer of FFTL, Sonny Moore, had to undergo vocal surgery, and FFTL was forced to cancel the rest of their shows this Summer. In the meantime, you can check out their new record “Heroine,” it’s amazing! I love some of their older stuff -- like “Emily,” “Ride the Wings of Pestilence” -- but the new album, man, every single song on there is sick!! “The Latest Plague,” “Afterbirth,” “Waltz Moore” and “Shame Shame” are my favorites and are definitely worth checking out. So please do yourself a favor and get this CD. UnderOATH’s new album just came out and is called “Define the Great Line.” It’s sooo good. Yet another good way to spend your lunch money. Even though they’re no longer on the tour, you can totally pretend you’re at the show in the comforts of your own home with the new CD. Blast the music, play air guitar in the mirror … What, you don’t do that? …Well … neither do I … of course … I mean … well this is awkward … sooooo moving onward … ;o) K, now of course I have my staples in my iPod that will always be mixed in with the new, like NIN, Rage, Slipknot, Smashing Pumpkins (p.s. met Billy Corgan at Wrestlemania 22, he was so rad; tell you about it in the next blog), The Used (my ultimate favorite band), A Perfect Circle, Johnny Cash, Morrissey, Death Cab and many more. Wouldn’t want to forget to mention them, they are the foundation of my iPod, along with many others you’ll be hearing about in the weeks to come. Lots of cool stuff to share. On a softer note … literally, when I hit the hay at night after a long day’s travel and work, in my hotel room, I have been leaning toward Regina Spektor lately. She’s amazingly talented, lyrically, and on piano. She sounds like a more cultured or at-peace-with-her-life Fiona Apple. Don’t get me wrong, I love Fiona, but I thoroughly enjoy Regina, as well. If you’re into that sort of music, check out the songs “Us,” “Somedays” and “Ghost of Corporate Future.” She has a way of making simple, beautiful music while incorporating lyrics that make you think. She’s got a logic similar to Jack Johnson combined with a childlike innocence and I love it. So, gotta wrap things up. Be sure to check in next week, I’ll be including excusive candid pics from Warped Tour, a one-on-one interview with an awesome band that performed there, the lowdown on the Superstars’ tastes and much, much more… One more thing, as you can see, discovering music and checking out new bands is a hobby of mine, so if you’ve got your own band and you’d like me to give a listen, don’t be afraid to slip me a copy of your stuff when you catch me on the street. Ya never know, it could be the next big thing. ;o) On that note, I’m out. xoxo ash A-Tunes of the day: Volume 1 1. Liar -- Taking Back Sunday 2. Fist Wrapped in Blood -- Silverstein 3. A Little’s Enough -- Angels and Airwaves 4. The City is far from here -- Aiden 5. Love like Winter -- AFI