I need something solid but also aggressive.
This is a contradiction in terms. Being aggressive in the context of chess means taking more risks, and being solid means taking less risks.
So I would suggest narrowing that down a little. Best wishes! :)
What I would suggest an opening where you find it easy for you to find attacks, and easy for your opponent to mess up, so you get attacking chances.
What openings do you like to play? Do they not work, or are you looking for something better?
Thanks for the explanation there. It's kind of a contradiction, yes. To better explain what I am looking for is an opening that IS aggressive, but is good for someone who is still somewhat new.
Josh, Michael started me out with the knights defense (which I don't like) and I've started to branch out into ruy lopez a little, but I'm trying to explore the different openings and find one that suits my style of play best. I tend to be aggressive and am not afraid of gambits as long as I know what I'm doing!
I appreciate your advice, but I'm looking for advice on an actual opening rather than the ten principles. But those certainly are things to keep in mind!
But, at your level, it would be better to understand a simple line, follow the opening rules and spend the time you would spend on "learning" a new opening for a torunament doing tactics.
Unless your rating is not even close your actual rating.
Sharp, open, tactical; at your level you don't worry about an opponent nursing a 1 pawn advantage through to the end game. Why not a gambit? The Evans gambit in fact. For black, against e4, go with the Sicilian Dragon. The Evans and Sicilian Dragon are both fun to play and won't run out of steam until you get much better. Yes eventually your opponents will learn to nurse a 1 pawn advantage and will mount an often winning Yugoslav attack against the Dragon, but you'll be 1600, 1800 by then. In my honest clueless opinion. 
I understand your point and have tried to do that with multiple online and in person games, tactics, puzzles, and just trying to get experience. I was just thinking that I needed to more have something to focus on even if I don't necessarily use it in the tournament. But believe me I am heeding your advice with the basic principles!
Which is easier of the two? On my chess team, everyone talks about the Sicilian, so I was leaning towards looking at that.
The QGA and the Petroff both have reputations as solid in the extreme. They both also tend to open the center of the board and result in extremely active piece play. Which, in practice, means either one can be as aggressive as you'd like it to be, unless you're facing experts or better.
Not that you'll ever get to play either one, since all your opponents will play Colles and Stonewall Attacks and Four Knightses and bizarre reversed Philidors against you.
At your rating level, you should study 1.e4 e5 as White. The Evans is ok, but you won't see it as often as you would like.
I wouldn't recommend the Evans, even though many players of your strength do play it with some success. It requires too much memorization of a specific line, and quite a few people you will face play it anyway, so there's not much return for the time invested. But if you really like it, try it.
I would recommend the Four Knights Spanish1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Nc3 Nf6 4.Bb5. Here's a game that was played just a couple days ago by two world-class Grandmasters:
Or, to make things even easier, learn the basics of the Scotch 1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.d4.
As Black, stay as far away from the Sicilian as possible! The first choice for most coaches is for you to learn the Black side of the Two Knights Defense (1.e4 e5 2.Nf3 Nc6 3.Bc4 Nf6) I like Rubinstein's defense below.
Against 1.d4, there's a simple response that gives Black active play. It is used by Grandmasters even now. Play the Queen's Gambit Tarrasch Variation (1.d4 d5 2.c4 e6 3.Nc3 c5) The drawback is that you have a slightly weak Isolated Queen Pawn (IQP). The advantage is that you get free development for your pieces. At your level, a weak IQP is not a serious problem at all. At a Grandmaster's level, it is still playable!
Here's one example:
Now for the advice everyone else will give you:
Don't spend too much time studying the openings. They won't win you games, tactics and endgame skill will! Chess really is all about tactics. Pick a mainline opening, learn the first few moves, and then spend the rest of your time studying tactics!
Any opening that controls the center, develops the pieces democratically (pawns aren't pieces, they're piece wannabes) and protects your king while striving to keep your opponent from doing the same will suffice.
Study tactics!
Oh wow, thank you for so much information and advice! I've been trying to do a lot of tactics recently, so I definitley see improvement in that regard. I tend to do well in chess games until the endgame and I fall apart. Any suggestions on how to improve that? I know, tactics and experience! But specifically, is there a particular method that you have found to be most helpful? There are only 3 tactics a day on chess.com for me and I don't have time for lots of live games (I work two jobs). But how should I manage my time studying those most efficiently, in your opinion?
Oh wow, thank you for so much information and advice! I've been trying to do a lot of tactics recently, so I definitley see improvement in that regard. I tend to do well in chess games until the endgame and I fall apart. Any suggestions on how to improve that? I know, tactics and experience! But specifically, is there a particular method that you have found to be most helpful? There are only 3 tactics a day on chess.com for me and I don't have time for lots of live games (I work two jobs). But how should I manage my time studying those most efficiently, in your opinion?
I remember now trying the Scotch several months ago and liking it. Thanks!
chess games until the endgame and I fall apart. Any suggestions on how to improve that? I know, tactics and experience! But specifically, is there a particular method that you have found to be most helpful? There are only 3 tactics a day on chess.com for me and I don't have time for lots of live games (I work two jobs). But how should I manage my time studying those most efficiently, in your opinion?
I would highly recommend that you play OTB chess with people who are physically with you. It better prepares you to play in a tourny, and you are forced to concentrate through the whole game, unlike in online chess, where you make your move, make a move in your other games, and come back that game a few days late and finding yourself not remembering your plans. Play a few games with no clock so that you do not feel pressured to make a move too quickly.
Tactics are good, but you need to play actual games to be able to apply them. Speed chess tests your ability to quickly find tactics in a game.
Maybe get a chess book out of the library. It should spend time going through a few complete games. If you get a book that looks a specific opening you are interested in, that is also good.
And most importantly, have fun!
If you're looking for an aggressive opening with a lot of tactics, I'd opt for the King's Gambit.
Naysayers will claim it's a dubious opening but I've won with it in amateur tournaments against higher-rated opponents and, at least in my experience, a lot of tourney players don't expect
It.
I also like the king's gambit a lot. It to a very difficult opening to play, so be aware of that.
I'm looking for a new opening to start studying in preparation for my first BIG tournament in August. I need something solid but also aggressive. Any suggestions? Preferably a king pawn opening, but I'm open to ideas. Keep in mind I've only been really serious about chess for about a year, but I have noticed my tactics skills and overall play improving drastically.
Thanks! :)