I Decided Many Years Ago That I’m Naming My Child ‘Santi’

What a toll this usually takes on an 18-year-old girl: one of her favorite bands has gone their separate ways. Not just any band, but a band that had set out a music pallet for her taste. One band that begun it all.

After just having seen The Academy Is… live at what happened to be their last show, I feel no remorse for the recent break-up. With each band member starting a new solo career, I am happy what they have all given me together. It’s a time of understanding. Their first two albums were all-time hits that never let you down. Each song probably stood as a time-marker for most, and life-enlightener for others. Every band saves a life because that’s the magic of music for ya.
Their third album was somewhat of a downfall, but still a unique sound and basic ground for all fans.

I am saddened by this course, but every band has their time and it was no surprise that their time to end was now. Two band members already said their goodbye’s some months ago; having heard no new music in over three years and almost never seeing them on tour, their new path was not shocking. It is the real fans that still listen to their music with pride after the charismatic music TAI… has developed. We do not back down now.

Almost Here for me has always been the album to listen to when I want to sing at the top of my lungs, pretending my vocal chords can produce something NOT equivalent to nails on a chalkboard.
Santi has always been a movement. The album tends to always correlate with any emotion I deeply feel. If I’m somber, hyper, or aggravated I have songs to match that and let me vent (just as long as I’m in front of a mirror).

With William Beckett still as my desktop background since September 10, I continue to listen to TAI…’s songs daily. Bill’s soothing vocals do just the trick when something traumatic yet seemingly right happens.

MY COLLEGE LIFE
I feel as if I should be crying or truly upset with the band’s decision. I think I just know that I’m not in 7th grade anymore. I’m getting older and things change with time. As I stated, it was no shock, but it is strange to think there won’t be any more shows for me to vent at (like the recent and needed 9/9/11 show did for me).
After informing a good friend on the ‘tragic’ news, she reminded me that The Academy Is… was the main reason we became friends to begin with. She responded to the news and to me with TAI…’s first album’s words: The writers weren’t kidding, but the good things will live in our hearts.

FBR15 Review (Exclusively TAI…)

Everyone has those moments where they fall into a deep hole. Sometimes it’s just a bad day. For me, this year was a hard-working summer, barely having any fun like past summers. Never getting to see friends nor staying up late, I felt so alone.

The mentioned William Beckett desktop background

Then suddenly your iPod is on shuffle and you hear an old song that used to be one of your favorite jams. You get so engulfed in this old song, you actually feel young again, even if it were just 3 years ago–after all, you’ve come a long way since then. This song is playing, somehow it’s on repeat, you’re singing in the mirror as if you wrote the lyrics yourself.

“Attention! Attention!” are charismatically sung into my ears each time I open my new MacBook Pro. It’s the slicked-back, volumized hair, famously bandana’d knee, and gaped mouth William Beckett that is so lively as my desktop background. I see this background picture and I hear the song so clean and clear in my head–or am I back at the show?

He and the rest of his band, The Academy Is…, is starting to come back in action after their first show in what felt like a long hiatus at the Fueled By Ramen 15 show. Having last witnessed them in live concert in ’08, hearing their debut album “Almost Here” live front to back was just the kick I needed.

The Academy Is… truly has the gift of making me feel young again. My desktop background has the power of bringing me back to Terminal 5 on September 9, 2011, thoroughly into William’s words, Sisky Business’ bass lines, Mike Carden’s simpler rock positions, new guy Jaimie’s hair, and The Butcher’s final TAI… show. Kudos to Alternative Press’ photographer, because his/her art of William has plastered me in something so deep that I instantly open up my iTunes just to start off listening to, “Attention” yet again.

I think TAI… was more of a movement and something new for me when I started listening to them in 2006. Since then, it has been apparent that they’ve lost contact with their fans a tad. Thankfully there’s Twitter and fan pages that keep them connected, but without social media, the band has been alone and shut off, because there hasn’t been a show in….what, years? Sure feels like it.

It was smart of TAI… to decide to play “Almost Here” front to back, it was much needed from fans. Plus, this decision was well directed for the 15th Anniversary of FBR; the whole entire night seemed to have taken a step back in time, it was a good reminisce for the crowd, creators, operators, and performers.

Even as I close out FireFox and stare at the true art that represents not only good photography, but a perfectly memorized and mesmerized night, I remember my place at The Academy Is…’s show. Whether it was my first TAI… show in ’06, their latest FBR15 performance, a TAITV episode, or a music video, I am instantly back in that time and place, knowing and feeling how great of a show TAI… can truly put on.
It’s lucky to be so talented, but it’s a gift to be able to manipulate time and place for a fan.

MY COLLEGE LIFE:
Timeline: 
Approx. 2006/2007: Begun listening to TAI…
2008: 15 year old; one of the last few members of MySpace as its slow regression begins; thoroughly loved TAI…, watched TAITV weekly; ambitions: to become invested in the music industry or in a university; driving; older; cooler; starting to listen to heavier music
2009-2010: still enjoy TAI… but no longer a favorite, where have they gone? Fast Times At Barrington High was cool and all, but c’mon, I’m naming my child after the album Santi and everything the name stands for.
2011: Not fun summer; falling back into music roots, away from heavier music; going to a local community college; discovered I’ve always truly wanted to be a writer; don’t know where I’m going; It’s okay though; I’m fine; even without a license

MORAL: So I may not be where I thought I would be 3 years ago. And I’m fine with that. But despite all of the changes, my love of TAI… has returned, and so have all of my good memories of them, because they’re so memorable and fantastic. Highly recommend them, always.