Take Action Tour

Hopeless Records and nonprofit organization Sub City have joined forces with music chain F.Y.E. to put on the eighth-annual Take Action Tour. To date, this tour has raised more than $550,000 for DoSomething.org, a nonprofit focused not on one particular charity but rather on providing tools, resources, and motivation to inspire "a generation of doers." This year's lineup continues the tradition of buzz-worthy bands with a strong showing of emo/punk-pop powerhouses. These include headliners Cute Is What We Aim For, Anarbor,Every Avenue, and Breathe Carolina who distinguish themselves by delivering what they've aptly labeled "emotronica."

Among the real standouts, though, is the Utah-based act Meg & Dia. These days, the group is actually comprised of five members, not just the two pretty songwriting sisters whose names form the group's handle. The 2006 debut album, Something Real, spawned two singles, "Roses" and "Monster," each of which saw heavy play both virally and on radio. But the group's upcoming second release, Here, Here, and Here, shows it taking a direct approach to its pop-rock hooks and, well, simply maturing.

And in case some added life experience isn't enough, the group has enlisted the help of a few notable names for the production of the record, which drops on Warner Bros. in April. Production comes from Howard Benson, best-known for his work with My Chemical Romance and All-American Rejects. Musical guests include Tom Higginson of the Plain White T's, who joins the group on the duet "Bored of Your Love." Other tracks to look out for include the darker and harder-rocking "Black Wedding" and "What If," which are already resounding with fans on the internet.