The Entire Album

When was the last time you sat down and listened to an entire CD? I’m talking start to finish, no other outside distractions. Not while driving your car, not while preparing dinner, not while play a game, just you and your CD, and maybe a glass of wine. How long has it been?

The Offspring’s fine album Smash starts out with the “time to relax” motif and I wonder how many of us still indulge in that. When I was a teenager, I would spend hours upon hours listening to music. I would wear albums out from overplay. I would come home from school (and if I wasn’t working) flop down on my bed, pull out a CD and let it play. I could listen to it over and over again, until I knew every word to every song. To this day, there are several albums that I know all the lyrics to, even though I may not have heard them in years.

Now, I’m lucky if an album is playing in the background and I can pause long enough to soak in one song. With the exception of when reviewing an album, I almost never get to sit and just listen to the music. Granted, listening to it in the car is almost as good, but there are still several distractions that take away from picking up the little nuances that make certain records so perfect.

Case in point, on a long road trip one night, I was listening to Pink Floyd’s The Wall (the live version) and thought about how nice it would be to just sit with the headphones on, a cold drink in hand, and let her rip. I could spare 90 minutes of my time at some point during the week, couldn’t I? If I could find the time to watch a movie, or television, then I could certainly find the time to listen to a disc that allows my body to relax.

So I’ve decided to make a pact, and I want to know if faithful readers will make it with me. We all love music, that’s why we’re here. Let’s make a pact to listen to one album, once a week, with nothing else in front of us. No work, no TV, no kids, (booze is optional). We’ll just sit and listen to the music. Allow it to overtake us and bask in its beauty. Doesn’t matter what disc you choose. Doesn’t matter if its twenty minutes or two hours, just put on the disc. It may become a new weekly ritual.

Me? I’m going to start with Dark Side of the Moon and a Captain and Cola. Be sure to send in your experiences and let me know if it was liberating, invigorating, or just plain stupid. And don’t be afraid to tell me if I’m way off base here. Maybe sitting down to play an entire album with no outside distractions is only for old fuddy-duddies.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Gene Simmons - Asshole

Let me first preface this review by saying that I am extremely biased when it comes to anything that a member, or former member, of Kiss releases. I am one of the few people who actually own and enjoy Vinnie Vincent Invasion CDs. With that being said, I was highly anticipating the release of Gene Simmons’ solo CD. Although technically it is the first solo disc that he has released since 1978, to me, and to most Kiss fans, this is the first solo CD he has ever released. When the four original solo albums came out, it was still considered Kiss material. Asshole is certainly not Kiss material. That’s not to say that it’s not good, just different.

Gene’s decision to cover Prodigy’s Firestarter was a bad one. Maybe he wanted to show that he is hip and cool, maybe he wanted to show that he has a wide variety of musical taste, or maybe he just likes the song, but the decision was still bad. Firestarter was an awful song when Prodigy recorded it, worse now that Gene has covered it. The song has no lyrical depth, no musical power, and basically it’s horrendous. And this is the song that Gene chose to release as his first single!

There are other moments on the CD that are just as bad. Gene proves on this disc that the falsetto vocals are best left to his partner in Kiss, Paul Stanley. Waiting For The Morning Light, co-written by Bob Dylan, and Beautiful are two songs that Gene tries to put together into a higher key. He fails, miserably. Gene was not meant to sing falsetto. He can sing slow songs, World Without Heroes, and Goin’ Blind come to mind, but those are sung in a normal Gene voice, not the high pitched joke he tries here.

The CD has guest stars galore, including the aforementioned Bob Dylan (who only contributed his lyrics), Dave Navarro, Gene’s love (Shannon Tweed) and children, Eric Singer, and Bruce Kulick, just to name a few. The latter two musicians play on two tracks on the CD and it is almost a 90s Kiss revival. The songs are heavy, dark, and have a mid-90s Kiss feel to them. They are probably leftovers from the Carnival of Souls recording sessions. One of the tracks is even titled Carnival of Souls.

Asshole does have some high moments on it. Whatever Turns You On (Turns Me On) is a great song that has Gene heading in a different direction musically. He turns away from the heavy metal/grunge that he has done for most of his career and decides to throw together a clap your hands track.

The CDs title track is one of the best on the disc. Musically it is an ode to an asshole that has the perfect compliment of heavy, loud riffs and vocals, and then comes down at the proper time. Lyrically, the song could use some help. “You’ve got a personality/just like a bucket full of pee.” Perhaps Bob should have wrote more lyrics for this disc.

The most memorable track is Black Tongue. A heavy, modern Kiss-like song, it is a proclamation to the world that you can take your own stance, do your own thing, and come out on top for being yourself. There is no need to contort to what society says you should or should not do, do your own thing and believe in yourself. Gene definitely practices what he preaches and this solo CD is proof of that.

Asshole did not live up to expectations, but I did set the bar way too high. I demand too much from Kiss and from members of Kiss and I expect them to deliver. I understand what Gene was trying to do with his solo CD, but he missed the mark. If you are a Kiss fan, a casual fan, or a Gene fan, then you’ll probably enjoy this record. The rest of you may want to take a stab at Paul Stanley’s solo CD.

Ryo’s Rating 6 (out of 10)

Track Listing
Sweet & Dirty Love
Firestarter
Weapons O f Mass Destruction
Waiting For The Morning Light
Beautiful
Asshole
Now That You’re Gone
Whatever Turns You On
Dog
Black Tongue
Carnival Of Souls
If I Had A Gun
1,000 Dreams

John Mellecamp - June 16, 1999

During the summer of 1999, I attended a lot of concerts. I don’t believe that there’s been a summer where I’ve attended more. I was in my mid-twenties, had a lot of disposable income (and credit) and concerts were one of my favorite events. One of the shows I saw that summer was John Mellencamp at the PNC Bank Arts Center, in Holmdel, New Jersey.

This would be the first and only time I would see Mellencamp in concert and I’ll be honest; I don’t recall much about this performance. I know that it wasn’t that long (he played for 90 minutes), I know that he played a few hits that I really wanted to hear (Pink Houses, Jack and Diane) and I know that it was his first return to Holmdel since he had a heart attack on stage.

We sat in section 403, which was the newly added, uncovered seats section. They were just installed earlier that year. Prior to those seats being there, the lawn was bigger, but the Arts Center realized they would get more revenue from adding seats there.

I paid $32.50 per ticket (plus fees). It was around this time that I started to really notice ticket prices creeping up and up. In two years time, the normal ticket price would be almost double what I paid for this show.

Son Volt opened the show and while I’m a huge fan of theirs now, the night of the concert I was only a casual fan. I owned a copy of Trace and that was all I knew about Son Volt. I remember wanting to hear Drown and not much caring about the other stuff they were playing. I did get to hear Drown and they did do an amazing performance of it.

With a buzz in the air and the roar of the crowd, Mellencamp took the stage. Again, I don’t recall every nuance as I do for most concerts, therefore it’s hard for me to remember exactly what took place or how I felt seeing John take the stage. There are some things I do easily recall. John wasn’t very energetic on stage (understandable for a guy who had a heart attack the last time he was at that venue). His song selection was nothing but the big hits, no deep cuts included. He performed for 90 minutes and called it a night.

I grew a deeper appreciation for Rain on the Scarecrow that night, as I listened to the lyrics he sang and the message behind the music. I was touched as John cried out about family farms being foreclosed on because the banks didn’t care about the bad year the farmer took, or the great credit they had before this troubled time hit. It definitely made me stop and think and appreciate the American farmer, all they do, and all they put up with.

While the performance itself was well done and enjoyable, especially the sing-along for Jack and Diane and Pink Houses, it was a disappointment that he would play such a short set. I was used to seeing bands and performers that went on forever and this was one of those rare concerts that was too short and somewhat disappointing.

Mellencamp has a catalog of great rock and roll hits and he played most of them that late spring night. However, his decision to perform for a minimal amount of time left me with a bad feeling and I determined that I probably would never see him live again.

I appreciate Mellencamp as a musical artist, enjoy his records, and own quite a bit of his stuff, but after that night, my feelings for him as a live performer were a lot less. Ever since then, I’ve paid a lot less attention to Mellencamp and I’ve actually become more of a Son Volt fan. While I will always like his music, especially the album Scarecrow, I don’t know that I will ever see Mellencamp in concert again.

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Salt Lake City Edition

I'd love to say that I'm posting from Salt Lake City, Utah, because I am out discovering the next huge band, or seeing an amazing concert festival, or following Dave Matthews on tour. Unfortunately, none of those are true. I'm out here for work, but it's work for my day job, the one that pays the bills and makes me a slave.

Nevertheless, I wasn't going to let that prevent me from giving you the weekly dose of rockin' roundup. Utah is real nice, but I'll be happy when I get back home.

Here's what rocked this week:

Cheap Trick/Posion/Def Leppard started their tour this week. I was disappointed by Poison's set list, and disappointed by the amount of time they are on the stage compared with Def Leppard. I'm happy I didn't shell out the bucks for this. Here's the setlist for all three bands on opening night.

The Music Elitist is back. He promises to blog regularly, but I'm not going to hold my breath. For now, I'm thankful for this really decent post on bands that release radio singles that don't suck.

Another shameless plug for another review I did over at Hard Rock Hideout. This one is my review of Grave Foresaken's This Day Forth.

And finally, Phish took some time out of their touring schedule (or maybe it was while they were on the road) to talk to Rolling Stone magazine about their upcoming album, Joy. I am excited and can't wait to get my hands on this one.

Michael Jackson Has Passed Away

Michael Jackson has died at the age of 50. Say what you want about his appearance and his strangeness over the last decade, there's still no denying his influence in music and his ability back in the day. Thriller was one of the first albums I ever owned, and it is still an amazing piece of work to this day. As is Off The Wall. May Michael rest in peace.

Below are links to the reports of his untimely demise.

MSN Report

Billboard report

Rolling Stone Report

Poison's Summer Setlist Finally Revealed

The Cheap Trick/Poison/Def Leppard tour is officially underway and we now know what Poison will be playing on this tour. Expect a rant in the near future, because I am thoroughly disappointed that once again, Poison is playing the same tired set, only this time, with less songs. (Click here to see my Poison setlist wish from earlier this year)

Cousin Ryo is not happy, but I'm glad I didn't shell out the ridiculous prices for this tour. Setlist below, full rant next week. Nuff Said.

Setlist

Look What The Cat Dragged In

I Want Action

Ride The Wind

I Won't Forget You

Mama Don't Dance

Fallen Angel

Something To Believe In

Unskinny Bop

Every Rose Has It's Thorn

Talk Dirty To Me

Nothin' But A Good Time

Note: No encore, because they are not the headliners and this is not a double bill.

Notable New Releases This Week

While flipping through my Sunday circular in this week’s newspaper, I noticed something rather interesting in the new release field. There are a bunch of quality CDs available for purchase this week.

Tonic – A Casual Affair, the Best of Tonic
Pete Yorn – Back and Fourth
Street Sweeper Social Club – Street Sweeper Social Club
Matt Nathanson – Some Made Hope
Mat Kearny – City of Black & White
Transformers – Revenge of the Fallen Soundtrack
Dream Theater – Black Clouds & Silver Linings

That’s an awful lot of superb new releases for one week. In addition to all of those, Incubus released their greatest hits 2-disc set last Tuesday. Cousin Ryo is definitely picking up the Pete Yorn (expect a review in the near future), and very interested in hearing the latest from Matt Nathanson and Mat Kearny. I’m also highly curious about Street Sweeper Social Club. It would be nice to hear what Tom Morello has done for this album.

Which new release are you most looking forward to this summer?

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

The One Band I Never Saw

Recently, the Dead went on a major spring tour that saw all the remaining members of the band together and jamming at a venue near you. I debated about getting tickets for a little while, and then decided that without Jerry Garcia, it wouldn’t be worth it for me.


I never got to see the Grateful Dead live, and it is the one band that I wished I did see. Led Zeppelin might have been great, the original Beatles I’m sure, perhaps the Who, but I can live with not having seen any of those bands. The Grateful Dead however… let’s just say it’s my one musical regret.


The Grateful Dead, while not the “original” jam band, gave credence to the genre. As a big fan of Dave Matthews Band, Phish, Widespread Panic and the like, it’s only natural that I would appreciate The Grateful Dead. However, I got into them a little too late. By the time I was really enjoying their music, Jerry had a year left to live. I missed the one opportunity to see them perform with Jerry Garcia, and then he was gone and the band went into a long hiatus.


So would seeing The Dead as they are now, fulfill the wish and desire to see the Grateful Dead? I don’t think so. I have no doubt that The Dead put on an amazing show. I have an acquaintance that saw them the last time they toured (back in 03) and attended 8 of their shows across the Northeast. She swore by it as an amazing experience. For me though, I don’t think it would be the same. I want Jerry to be there. I want to experience what I hear on the recordings. That’s impossible, I know, so should I have settled for the next best thing?


What’s your opinion? Is it The Grateful Dead without Jerry Garcia? Would it have been worth the $100 investment? If anyone went to see the shows, drop The Guru a line. I’d love to hear all about the experience, whether it be good, bad, or indifferent.


And while we’re at it, what’s the one band that you never saw live but wish you did, or want to?


Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Iron Maiden: Flight 666 - The DVD

Iron Maiden has released another DVD masterpiece for your viewing pleasure. Flight 666: The Movie is the ultimate souvenir of their Somewhere Back In Time world tour, capturing the first leg which took place in February and March of 2008. This two disc set provides an intimate look behind the scenes of one of the greatest rock bands in the world and a lifelike concert experience of the band that is Iron Maiden.

Disc One, Flight 666: The Film is a complete insider’s look at the band as they travel five continents, 23 cities, and 50,000 miles in 45 days. Giving full access to a film crew for the first time in their history, Iron Maiden opens the doors for their fans to get an inside look at a typical Iron Maiden tour.

Starting with their take off on Day One, the journey across the globe is documented. Bruce Dickinson was the pilot of their own private jet for this tour, and he explains how this idea came to be and how Iron Maiden was able to do what no other band can, fly their own airliner on their own terms.

Providing a glimpse at how the band enjoys their downtime between shows, what they do to overcome jetlag, and how they get ready before a live performance, this documentary is a Maiden fan’s dream come true. It’s interesting to learn the little things each band member does to keep their sanity and their energy level during a massive world tour.

Nicko McBrain is the humorist of the group, keeping everything light and fun for the band and the film crew. His screen shots are enjoyable ones and his humor keeps everyone laughing.

It was intriguing to note what the band understands of their fans as well. Guitarist Adrian Smith made an interesting point about how the band suffers from jet lag due to the grueling schedule and climate changes. He noted, however, that the fans don’t want to hear about that. They paid their money, they want a great show, and it’s up to the band members to overcome their fatigue and give the fans what they paid for. This is just one of the many reasons why Iron Maiden is one of the greatest bands in the world.

Capturing fan footage from around the globe, it was amazing to see all of the fans that Iron Maiden has worldwide. For some countries, this was a once in a lifetime chance to see their heroes onstage. Iron Maiden had not played Australia in 25 years, they never performed in India or Columbia before, and the fans appreciated the band finally coming to their country.

Seeing fans, whose first language is not English, sing every word to every song back to the band is a phenomenal, spine tingling experience. They know the lyrics in English, and they can scream it back to the band with the best of them.

This documentary disc alone would be worth the purchase price of the package. Maiden didn’t stop there though. They added a second disc for viewing pleasure.

Disc Two, Flight 666: The Concert provides a complete concert experience, each song of the brilliant live performance captured from a different city on the tour. Starting with Ace’s High from Mumbai, India and closing with Hallowed Be Thy Name, from Toronto, Canada, every song performed on this tour is captured in all of its live glory.

Camera shots of all the different audiences help to reinforce the global fan base that Iron Maiden has captured through their music. With almost no radio coverage and very little media attention, Iron Maiden has become a force in South America, Japan, USA, India, and countries all over the world.

One thing that stood out watching this concert film is the amazing shape that Bruce Dickinson is in. I would love to know what his workout regimen is, because for a man pushing 50, he looks incredible. If you didn’t know his age, you would swear he was in his 30s. This explains why he can bring the energy he does as a front man. His ability to work the crowd, run the stage, and sing like an air raid siren is unmatched by any rock front man out there today. Those looking to understand how to give an unprecedented performance need look no further than Bruce Dickinson.

The triple guitar attack of Dave Murray, Janick Gers, and Adrian Smith was masterful on this tour, adding a whole new layer of depth to these songs that are 20-25 years old. The ability to switch off solos, have a twin guitar attack with a third axe to play the rhythm is masterful. The guitars have never sounded better and all three guitarists seem to be having the time of their lives.

One thing I learned from this concert film is that Nicko plays the drums barefoot. I either never noticed this on previous Maiden concert films, this is the first time it was captured on film, or he decided to go barefoot just for this tour. It was interesting to see him pounding the bass pedal and high hat with his bare feet. I just wouldn’t want to imagine what his feet look like at the end of the show.

Pulling it all together with masterful bass work is Steve Harris. His ability on the bass guitar is like no other. He may be the most underrated bassist in the history of rock. He truly is Iron Maiden and he is having fun every night on stage. Steve really gets into ever performance and it shows in this concert footage from around the world.

With 16 tracks filmed from 16 different cities, including Rime of the Ancient Mariner from New Jersey (the concert I attended), this in depth look at the band performing around the world is one of the best concert films ever produced on Iron Maiden. The decision to show 16 cities instead of just one was a brilliant idea and makes the concert movie that much more enjoyable. If you’ve got 3 hours you can set aside for some great documentary and musical enjoyment, I highly recommend Flight 666.

Ryo’s Rating: A+ - very worthy of your monetary investment.

Dave Matthews Band - April 15, 2009

Tax day - 2009. I was heading to the IZOD Center to see one of my favorite groups perform live, Dave Matthews Band. With the evilness of paying additional taxes behind me, I cut out of work early and my buddy Tim and I headed to the Giants Stadium parking lot for some food and beer before the show.

On the ride over, I put on some Dave, as I like to listen to a band before seeing them in concert. Tim immediately told me to turn it off. I gave him a funny look and asked why I would want to turn off Dave Matthews Band.

“Bad acoustics,” Tim explained.

Of course this left me baffled, so I needed further explanation. Apparently, Tim has a friend who swears by the fact that you do not listen to the band you are about to see on the day you will see them. His reasoning was that if listening to said band, their music will sit in the ear receptors, and it won’t be fresh. If, however, you listen to something totally different, then when you hear the music live that night, it will sound fresh and exciting, better. Hence, bad acoustics.

I wasn’t sure if I agreed with that argument or not, but it was a cool theory to kick around, so I turned off Dave Matthews and threw in some Ryan Adams. We talked for most of the ride to the arena anyway.

When we got to the parking lot, the tailgate fun kicked into high gear and we met up with Tim’s sister and her friends, who were also attending the concert with us. We discussed Dave Matthews Band, favorite songs, what we wanted to hear and how many times we had seen the band live. (It was going to be my third time for those of you keeping score at home). Tim’s sister broke the cardinal rule and put on Dave Matthews and Tim Reynolds Live at Radio City Music Hall and I laughed at Tim and sang along with the entire disc.

We skipped out on the opening act and went in about fifteen minutes before the band was set to take the stage. Although the album was delayed until June, I was interested in hearing the new songs from Big Whisky and the Groo Grux King. I knew they were playing a few of the new songs, and I was curious. I had only heard the lead single, Funny The Way It Is, and that left me hungry to hear more.

The lights went dark, the crowd went nuts, I screamed my head off, and Dave Matthews Band walked onto the stage. The opening notes of Bartender filled the arena and I applauded as loud as I could. Bartender is one of my favorites and I was so happy to hear it live, especially as the opener. The night had begun on a very high note.

Satellite followed, which was a nice surprise and performed well, and then the night really took off. For the third song of the evening, Dave Matthews Band pulled out Granny, a song that I absolutely adore and can’t get enough of. It was the first time that I was hearing it live and it was heaven. This was the type of moment that I lived for. I sang every word with all of my vocal power and had a big grin on my face during the entire performance.

Funny The Way It Is came a little later and was an impressive live performance. It was just as good as the studio version I had been listening to online; a great new song that I really got into that night. It has since become one of my favorites.

And that was only the beginning. Dave and the band went on to own the night. Boyd Tinsley was a genius on the violin. Carter Beauford was as happy as could be behind the drum kit. The addition of Rashawn Ross on trumpet and Tim Reynolds on guitar, added a depth to the music that was not there previously. They both enhance the stage presence and the live performance, rounding it out into a musical masterpiece.

The set list for the night was nothing short of excellent. In addition to Granny, Dave pulled out an astonishing cover of the Talking Heads Burning Down The House, and performed brilliant versions of You Might Die Trying, and Dancing Nancies.

Of course, the pot smoke was not absent from this concert. Once again, my seats were pretty high up, and the one thing I learned on that particular evening is that pot smoke rises. Surrounded by young pot heads and dancing college girls everyone was smoking the ganja and acting like fools. Of course the heavy hitters were seated right next to me, lighting up joints every third song. Midway through the concert, my stomach hurt and my mouth was dry. The joys of a DMB show.

Crush was a nice added surprise that came about midway through the performance. I had never really gotten into that song, but always appreciated it. After seeing it performed live, I appreciate it even more. The long, drawn out, slow groove folded into this song made it all worthwhile. This had to be a 14 minute version of Crush with the long, slow jam extended in the middle. Stefan Lessard’s bass line was kicking it that night, and I was really impressed with the live version of that song.

Corn Bread was excellent. Dave was in rare form, foot stomping around the stage and singing the lyrics in full force and with meaning. Dave made you believe. Tim’s slide guitar solo enhanced the song and was a standout point of the evening. This had always been a song that I admired, but after that concert, it has moved on to become one of my favorite DMB songs ever. Amazing.


Two Step closed out the main set and all I can say is wow! These guys do a phenomenal live version of this classic, and Carter Beauford really pulls it all together on the drums. His timing and rhythm is impeccable and it showed on that cold April night.

After Two Step Dave and the band exited the stage to thunderous applause. There was a long gap between leaving the stage and returning for the encore. I’m not sure what they were discussing backstage, but it took a good 10 minutes to get them back out there.

When they did return, I was disappointed. They chose The Maker as their first song of the encore, and it’s a song that I never liked and never got into. I laughed as the pot smoker next to me shouted, “This is what I waited that long for?” I had to agree with him, it was a poor encore choice.

DMB would make up for it with their next song, All Along The Watchtower. As usual, this was an amazing cover performed with brilliance. It never gets old and never ceases to amaze me how well they can play this song. It was a great way to close out the show and the sold out arena was very pleased. They showed their love with a standing ovation of appreciation for a beautiful performance. The night was amazing and one that wouldn’t be forgotten anytime soon.

Set List
Bartender

Satellite

Granny

Stay Or Leave

Funny The Way It Is

Burning Down The House

You Might Die Trying

Spaceman

When The World Ends

Crush

Recently

Corn Bread

Why I Am

Dancing Nancies

Grey Street

Two Step

Encore

The Maker

All Along The Watchtower

Friday Night Video

Ida Maria - Oh My God

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Father's Day Edition

It’s June, a time to celebrate fathers. This Sunday is Father’s Day here in the US. My father is one of the main reasons that I have such a lust for music. He was always one to rock out, turn the music up louder, and teach me the history of any band that I inquired about. Before his untimely demise, he had amassed a record collection of amazing number. I never did get a final count, but I know it was in the thousands. Seeing his record collection at his house and seeing the pristine condition those records were in, always made me smile. I know it’s why I keep my record collection (or CD collection, if you will) the same way. It was ingrained in me from my father. Thanks, Dad.

Here’s what rocked this week:

Gene Simmons is coming to a toilet near you. The rocker/reality star who promotes anything and everything has put his image on a urinal cake. This news has sparked so much interest and fascination that both Allyson from Bring Back Glam and Christine Sixx over at Hard Rock Hideout have weighed in with their thoughts. Now, you could say will Gene stoop to nothing with his marketing ideas and what won’t he do for a buck, but I think the more important question is who sold HIM on the idea?

The Bonnaroo music festival was this past weekend. It was a rain soaked, mud filled, hell of a good time according to all the reports I’ve read. Springsteen performed a marathon show, clocking in over three hours in length. Trent Reznor announced that it was Nine Inch Nails’ last show ever in the USA. Phish conquered with a two night performance. Wilco played a lot from their yet to be released new album Wilco (the album) and had a killer set as well. All in all, it seems like the festival was amazing. Highlights can be found here:
http://www.bonnaroo.com

This is an absolutely phenomenal portrayal of the history of the Beatles. Yeah, I got chills watching it. This is the opening sequence for the Beatles edition of Rock Band. Go. Watch. Now.

Summer Reading for Music Fans

Summer is right around the corner, which means that summer vacations are not too far off. One of the great things about summer vacation is the available time to do things that usually seem to slip away during the course of a normal week, like reading. For a music fan, there are endless biographies and books on the subject of music and musicians. The question is which to read first? Well, today, your cousin Ryo is going to share some of his favorites. Perhaps there’s one on the list that you haven’t read, and you’d be willing to take it with you on your way to the beach this year.

No One Here Gets Out Alive by Jerry Hopkins and Danny Sugerman.
Without question, this is the most authoritative biography on Jim Morrison in existence. Stephen Davis’ Jim Morrison comes in a close second, but still can’t top this masterpiece. Anything that you ever wanted to know about Jim and The Doors is covered between these pages. A worthwhile read that will have you turning page after page at a lightning pace.

U2 BY U2
U2 BY U2 is the autobiography of the Irish rock quartet, told in their own words. The tale unfolds from the bands earliest days and their meeting in school all the way through the Vertigo tour. While it can be cumbersome at some points (especially during the early years), it is a fascinating read about one of the greatest rock bands in the world written by one of the greatest rock bands in the world.

Old Gods Almost Dead by Stephen Davis
This is the definitive story of the Rolling Stones. Written by Stephen Davis, this book covers the journey of rocks royalty from their inception and small pub appearances in England all the way through their Forty Licks tour. Anything you ever wanted to know about the Rolling Stones is covered between these pages, whether it’s flattering or not. All of the drama, the inside dirt, the struggles and the triumphs are all included in this massive biography. At 624 pages, it is a behemoth of a book, but a quick read, due to the interesting subject matter and excellent writing style.

Watch You Bleed by Stephen Davis
Watch You Bleed is Stephen Davis’ latest work and tells the sage of Guns N Roses. While it is a compelling read, I do question some of the facts contained within the book. Davis wrote this at the request of a friend, so I’m not sure how interested he was in the subject matter, or how deeply he investigated the claims. There is plenty of information and the picture painted definitely sets the scene of the sunset strip in the late 80s, but Slash’s autobiography Slash, is the better read for the money. The problem with Slash is that it only shows one perspective.

The Dirt: Confessions of the World’s Most Notorious Rock Band by Tommy Lee, Mick Mars, Vince Neil, and Nikki Sixx, with Neil Strauss
If there is one book about hard rock bands that must be read above all others, it is The Dirt by Motley Crue. An exceptionally well written book, the pages of this one contain the truth, the whole truth, and nothing but the truth, as told by the band members themselves. And it doesn’t stop there. Not only do all the members of Motley tell their tale, they also have excerpts from the band manager, Doc McGhee, former band member John Corabi, record producers and others who were involved in the mass debauchery that was Motley Crue. Hands down, the best rock book I’ve ever read, this tells the real story of the life of an 80s rock star complete with sex (lots and lots of it), drugs (a plethora), and rock and roll (occasionally they made music).

Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal by David Konow
If you’re looking for a more historical perspective of heavy metal, Bang Your Head: The Rise and Fall of Heavy Metal will cover what you wish for. A well written history of the metal genre, this book delves into metal’s earliest days of Black Sabbath and Led Zeppelin all the way to the early 90s when grunge took over and became the “in” music. It covers the musician perspective nicely as the huge bands of the 80s learn to deal with the fact that they are now yesterday’s news after enjoying such a successful run. Well written and very informative, Bang Your Head is a book that any metal fan could rip through on one beach day.

Fargo Rock City by Chuck Klosterman
Chuck Klosterman has always been one of my favorite writers, so I can’t have a post about music books you should read without including him. He has three exceptional books on the subject of music, but I am still most fond of his first one, Fargo Rock City. This book gives the intimate insight in a humorous light of the 80s glam metal genre and being a teenage fan while living in North Dakota. Told in his tongue-in-cheek prose, Klosterman delivers a humorous, historical memoir of metal and the teenage boy.

There are several other great books out there worthy of a read this summer, but these are a few of your cousin Ryo’s favorites. Are there any that you would recommend? Any books that aren’t mentioned that particularly stand out? Feel free to post a comment and let us know. We all enjoy a good read recommended by a true music fan.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Citi Cards Offering Discounts on Concert Tickets

Membership definitely has it rewards. The other day I received an email from Citibank, as I often do, since I have a credit card with them. The e-mail informed me of concert happenings where I could have access to presale tickets. As I read through the bands playing, I noticed that there was access to AC/DC tickets through Citi. I knew the price of those tickets ($100) and I wasn’t interested in paying that much as it was higher than my self-imposed concert budget.

Reading the blurb under the AC/DC graphic helped me learn that there was a special 4-pack ticket deal only for Citi Card members. This perked my interest so I clicked the link. What I found was unbelievable. As long as four tickets were purchased, we would be able to get AC/DC tickets for $22 per ticket (plus fees). That was a huge mark down from $100 (plus fees). The seats they were offering must be horrendous, nosebleed seats. I called Metal Eddie and the guys, confirmed they were in regardless of seat location, and I hopped online.

Not only did I score four tickets for AC/DC at Giants Stadium this July, I paid $35/ticket. Were the seats in the ultimate high rise 300 section? No. They were in section 223, row 7. For $35 (fees included), those are fantastic seats. Needless to say, cousin Ryo is very happy. I get to see one of my favorite bands for the third time, and I saved a ton of money. I love a great bargain! As a bonus, Metal Eddie has never seen AC/DC before. He is going to LOVE it.

If you’re interested in seeing AC/DC on the cheap and have a Citi card, head over to Ticketmaster while tickets are still around! http://www.ticketmaster.com/

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Blackfoot - Siogo

In 1983, a lesser known band named Blackfoot, tried to revamp their sound and style to keep up with the heavy metal acts that were currently breaking into (and sometimes ruling) the radio airwaves. The end result was Siogo, a talented, enjoyable, hard rocking record with moments of brilliance. Is Siogo worth scouring the back bins of your local record store to own and cherish? Let’ spin the disc and find out.

Kicking off with a rocking keyboard intro, Siogo starts with a great track, Send Me An Angel. A fast paced rocker with quick drum beats, heavy guitar riffs, and fast breaks, Send Me An Angel is a stellar opener and serves well to set up what’s to come on the remainder of the disc.

Heart’s Grown Cold is an extremely catchy fist in the air, sing along, song. The keyboard melodies blend well with the guitars, Charlie Hargrett’s solos sound excellent, and the high-pitched backing vocals of LALA blend velvet smooth with Rick Medlocke’s chants of “Honey, let me tell you how your heart’s grown cold!” This is a foot stomping rocker if I ever heard one and without a doubt the best song on the disc.

White Man’s Land is an interesting song discussing the burden of taxes, the trials and tribulations of a typical day in the life of the average American. The message is still poignant today, 26 years after the song was written. That shows the longevity and timelessness of the lyrics. It also shows how little progress we’ve made in a quarter century.

Rick Medlocke has an excellent voice, and I’m really surprised that he never took off with Blackfoot or any other band. While his guitar playing leaves a little to be desired, due to the basic nature and ability of his simplistic riffs, his vocals are amazing. He sounds like a lead singer that’s hungry for stardom, and it may have served the band better if Rick had decided to just be the vocal front man, paving the way to bring in someone else on guitar.

Charlie Hargrett plays excellent guitar on this album. His chops are strong and his lead solos are a pleasurable ear experience. While lesser known than other guitarist of the 80s, Hargrett is talented enough to keep up with the best of them, and it specifically shows on the opening of We’re Going Down. The intro guitar riff is a catchy, heavy metal explosion with some great fret work by Charlie. His solo on this number is inspiring and had Blackfoot been more in the mainstream, a lot of today’s guitarists would be listing Charlie Hargrett as an influence on their playing style.

Rife with heavy keyboards throughout the record, Siogo is dominated at times by keyboardist Ken Hensley. While basic in its 1-2-3-4 beat, the keyboards do add an additional layer to the music that would not be there otherwise. Certain tracks, such as Teenage Idol, would not sound even close to the same if the keyboards were removed.

Galloping melodies, keyboard heavy tracks, and fun rock and roll dominate this record. Overall, Siogo is a great listen and still relevant in the late 2000s, which is a testament to an album that was recorded in the early 80s. Seek this one out on EBay, or in a local record store near you. It’s worthy of your time and you’ll be glad you made the investment.

Ryo’s Rating: 8 (out of 10)


Track List
Send Me An Angel
Crossfire
Heart’s Grown Cold
We’re Goin’ Down
Teenage Idol
Goin’ In Circles
Run For Cover
White Man’s Land
Sail Away
Drivin’ Fool

U2 - May 17, 2005

Continental Airlines Arena, the site of so many great concerts in my life. I was set to witness another one when U2 came into town in support of their latest disc, How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb.

At 8:55 PM, a beautiful song piped through the house PA at a louder volume than the previous songs had. Red lights flipped on over the stage, and there was a buzz in the jam-packed arena. The sell-out crowd was restless in their seats, as they knew something is about to happen.

9:00 PM. Beaded curtains fall behind the stage and light up as our heroes leap out of the depths of darkness and catapult into the live setting. The opening notes of City of Blinding Lights are played and the arena erupts in a volcanic sea of noise – cheers and applause are deafening and heartfelt. The concert has begun and we are on our way to a harmonious escape. For the next 2-plus hours, we are led by Bono and his magnificent band mates. We see what he sees, we feel what he feels, and we do as he commands. We are his and we trust him to lead us down a glorious path of music.

With the energy level of a jungle cat attacking its prey, U2 pounced on the audience with the second song of the night. Vertigo attacked the senses and reminded us all how much fun rock and roll is. They had us in their control from that moment forward. And once we were theirs, U2 never let go.

The setlist hit the range of their years, showing their longevity and their ability. Delving all the way back to Boy and then bringing it full circle with songs from All That You Can’t Leave Behind and How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, U2 performed the gamete of their history. Attacking the audience with hit after hit, demanding their attention and demanding their voice, they orchestrated the songs like a world-class conductor and the audience was extremely supportive of their ability.

The highlight of the night came in the encore, when Bono called an audible to the Edge with a hug and a whisper, no doubt varying the song that was originally going to be played. He instead called for Original of the Species, and they played a brilliant, flawless version.

By the time the band launched into 40, the crowd was mellowed, fulfilled, and satisfied – not unlike the feeling at the end of a rewarding workout. U2 had given us a vibrant one and we certainly felt the rewards. Winding down for what was supposed to be the final song of the evening, 40 was thoroughly enjoyed by all in attendance and it showed with the chorus being shouted at the band, even after they had stopped playing their instruments. It was obvious that the crowd was not going to let it end.

And so the boys in the band responded with one last unexpected surprise – they played Vertigo again. At the end of this powerful replay, Bono explained how in the Italian opera, when a song is sung that was loved so much, the opera singers come out to sing it again. “Encore, encore,” he said in an Italian accent.

The band took their final applause and walked off into the night, leaving behind an extremely satisfied and enjoyably exhausted arena of appreciative fans. Brilliance and perfection had left for the evening.

Setlist
City Of Blinding Lights
Vertigo
Elevation
The Cry
The Electric Co.
An Cat Dubh
Into The Heart
Beautiful Day
Miracle Drug
Sometimes You Can't Make It On Your Own
Love And Peace Or Else
Sunday Bloody Sunday
Bullet The Blue Sky
Running To Stand Still
Pride (In The Name Of Love)
Where The Streets Have No Name
One
EncoreZoo Station
The Fly
Mysterious Ways
Original Of The Species
All Because Of You
Yahweh
40
Vertigo

Friday Night Video

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Game 7 Edition

For those of you unaware, your cousin Ryo is a hockey fan. I’m a much bigger baseball fan (as that is my biggest passion after music), but I am a pretty big hockey fan. I got into hockey by watching Mario Lemieux play when he first came into the league. By following him and the team he played for, I became a Penguins fan.

The Penguins are in a position to win the Stanley Cup tonight. All they have to do is win in Detroit, something they have not been able to do yet this series. This game is going to be humongous, and I am going to enjoy every second that they are on the ice. As they like to chant in Pittsburgh, “Let’s Go Pens!”

Here’s what rocked this week:

Maiden’s new DVD is out! Did you pick up your copy yet? Cousin Ryo did, so expect a full review sometime in the near future. In the meantime, if you haven’t picked up Flight 666: The Movie yet, there is a lot of information about it available on Iron Maiden’s website. Iron Maiden - Flight 666:The Movie

The Bonnaroo Festival kicked off yesterday in Manchester, Tennessee. I was very close to attending it this year, especially with Phish performing for two nights (I’ve never seen them live), Nine Inch Nails (I’ve only seen them once), and Bruce Springsteen (can’t see him enough), but alas, it never panned out with the people I was trying to go with. They were unable to attend. Hopefully I can get there next year. http://www.bonnaroo.com/

Faith No More has officially launched their reunion tour. Here’s the setlist and video footage from their first show in England. Still no word on their plans for the states during this reunion, but it sure would be nice to see them in the USA. Faith No More Reunion Setlist

Another week, another review over at Hard Rock Hideout. Here’s my review of Gynger Lynn. Ryo's review of Gynger Lynn

And finally, it’s so good to see rock and roll dominating the record charts again. This week Dave Matthews Band came in at number 1, with Chickenfoot, 311, Green Day, and Taking Back Sunday all in the top 10. Rock and Roll! Billboard's Top 10

Dave Matthews Band - Live At The Beacon Theater

Since its release last week, I can’t get enough of Dave Matthews Band’s latest disc, Big Whiskey And The Groo Grux King. I’ve been spinning it a lot, especially in the car on my way to and from work. It’s a fabulous record that I really enjoy.

After listening to a couple of key tracks for the 100th time this week, I started to wonder what the new songs sounded like live in concert. Would Seven be totally fantastic live? Does Alligator Pie pack the same punch on stage as it does on disc?

Then I remembered the Beacon Theater concert. The night before the disc was officially released, Dave and the band played the Beacon Theater and it was broadcast live on Hulu.com. I watched some of it, but not all, as the show ran very late for me (I’m an early riser).

Last night, I hopped on over to Hulu.com, and low and behold, the entire concert is still there for viewing pleasure. They’ve also broken the show up by song, so if there are individual pieces that you’d like to hear, you can jump right to that segment. Wow! And the best part is it’s all free. Sit through A 30 second State Farm commercial and you’re in. That’s it!

Interested in viewing the entire concert? Click the link below:
http://www.hulu.com/watch/75477/dave-matthews-band-live-from-the-beacon-theatre

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Who Should Sing For Led Zeppelin?

Recently the rumors have started to swell again that Jimmy Page, John Paul Jones, and Jason Bonham are planning a Led Zeppelin reunion. While I feel that this is not Led Zeppelin without Robert Plant, just a bunch of guys trying to cash in, that is a topic for another day.

If Zeppelin does decide to go through with this Robert-less reunion, ala Queen (with Paul Rodgers), whom should they get to sing for them? Should it be an unknown? A hugely known? A has been? It’s going to be very hard to replace the voice of Robert Plant, so they should seek out someone who has a similar sound and style.

With that being said, I recommend Lenny Wolf. You guys remember... the lead singer of Kingdom Come? The last I checked, Kingdom Come was still around and making records that sell in Europe, but they haven’t been heard much here in the USA.

When Kingdom Come first came on the scene back in 1989, they were written off as a Led Zeppelin wannabe band with the Robert Plant clone front man. Having listened to Kingdom Come for years, I know Lenny Wolf does have a sound and style similar to the Led-Zeppelin era Plant. So if they were to approach someone, why not Lenny?

I can’t imagine that he would say no, but who knows? Money and fame don’t motivate everyone. Perhaps Lenny is happy plugging along with Kingdom Come, and if he is, good for him. I just think it would be in Zeppelin’s best interest to at least approach the guy and see if he’d be willing to audition.

As for a Zeppelin reunion, would I go if Robert Plant were not singing? Unless the tickets were dirt cheap (which I have to think they would not be), then no, I can’t see myself going. I did not go to the Queen with Paul Rodgers concerts, even though I am a fan of both bands. Without Freddie, it is not Queen, and the same principal applies here. Page/Jones/Bonham cannot think that the fans would be willing to shell out between $100 - $500 for a less than pure Led Zeppelin. I say pure, because Jason Bonham is the son of John and that’s as pure as you can get given the circumstance.

Now after all these years, they are finally close to getting back together and they may want to move forth without Plant. I don’t see the fans paying the big bucks, but I may be wrong. ¾ of Led Zeppelin may be better than no Led Zeppelin to a lot of people who have never seen them before.

Who would be your choice to sing for Led Zeppelin? Lenny Wolf? Someone else?

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Why Ticketmaster Totally Sucks

Yesterday, at exactly 12:00 PM, I went online to try for Bruce Springsteen tickets. Two additional shows were added to the Giants Stadium run in late September/early October, and I wanted the opportunity to see at least one more of these shows.

At the precise moment that the tickets went on sale according to the website, I selected the number of tickets I wanted (3), the price I wanted to pay ($33), and hit the enter button. I then had to type in the aggrevating scalper deterrent codes (which really doesn’t prevent scalping, but that is a subject for another day), and hit enter. Within 45 seconds, a big annoying box came up on my computer informing me that there were no tickets available at this time. What? At 12:00:45 PM all the tickets were sold out? You sold out all the $33 seats in 45 seconds? I call shenanigans!

Not to be thwarted, I went right back in and tried to get 3 tickets, this time at any price, any availability. I figured that if the tickets came in over my self-imposed fee of $65 then I would release them and search again. After a nice 12 minute wait, I was again shown the dreaded “no tickets available” screen. All tickets sold out in a matter of 13 minutes? 55,000+ tickets were gone that fast? WHO THE HELL GOT ALL THE TICKETS?

Well, a quick check of Stub Hub, Select-A-Ticket, and a couple of other “legal” ticket scalping sites showed me that there are a plethora of tickets available for an inflated face value. Once again, Ticketmaster has done nothing to deter the scalpers, and once again the good seats are gone to the corporations and re-sellers, while the fans are left with nothing. Ticketmaster will hide behind their usual corporate BS of “the demand for tickets was in the hundreds of thousands while there were only 55,000 tickets available…” speech, and once again they will do nothing to combat this in the future. Why should they? They’ve sold their tickets, made their money, and will be making more money on the secondary market.

This is why Ticketmaster is the Satan of the concert industry.

Irving Azoff can go stick it where the sun don’t shine!

Anyone else have any issues trying to get tickets too these shows? The Guru would love to hear all about it.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Staind's Economic Stimulus Tour

Finally, a band is getting it right and helping out the fans by charging less for a great concert. Staind recently announced their “Stimulate This!” tour, which includes them as the headliners, Shinedown, Cheville, and Halestorm. Ticket prices are ridiculously low at under $40 and lawn seats as low as $10 in some venues.

First, look at that lineup. Staind is a great band in their own right. Shinedown is making noise as one of the hottest hard rock bands on the scene, and Cheville is gaining a lot of attention as well. Halestorm I’ve never heard of, but as the opening act, I’d be interested in seeing what they bring to the table.

And the best part? This is a concert that we can all afford. These are club prices for a major act! Whether you like Staind is irrelevant to the fact that they are taking action to lower ticket prices. No $100 seats here, just low priced, affordable tickets.

Blink 182 is doing something similar, so hopefully this is the start of a new trend. Concert ticket prices have gotten out of hand lately, and perhaps the bands are seeing the result in low attendance and now are changing their strategy. The bands will still make a lot of money from touring, and now they will be playing to sold-out crowds instead of half-empty arenas. That’s a win-win for everyone.

Staind’s “Stimulate This!” Tour kicks off on July 1st in Peoria, Illinois. Complete tour dates can be found here: http://www.staind.com/

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Dave Matthews Band - Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King

Big Whiskey and the Grooogrux King, is the first album of new material from Dave Matthews Band since 2005’s Stand Up. While it’s been a long wait between records, the band has had time to grow even deeper and work harder to polish their act with countless road shows and never ending tours, resulting in sharper, tighter music. So, is Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King worth spending your money on? Let’s spin the disc and find out.

Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King starts off with Grux, a tribute to deceased member LeRoi Moore, who passed away while recording of this album was underway. Grux is a short little number of just LeRoi on the saxophone. It’s a great way to start the disc and a nice tribute to the memory of LeRoi.

Grux bleeds right into Shake Me Like A Monkey, a solid opening track with a full on jazz ensemble of trumpets, horns, and a delightful groove that makes your feet move whether you want them to or not. It’s a delicious lead off track and a strong Dave Matthews Band Song.

Funny the Way It Is, the lead single from this release, is an amazing song; one of the best Dave Matthews Band has done in quite some time. It is a fast paced groove with meaningful lyrics and a lot of spirit. Boyd Tinsley’s violin has never sounded better, and he gets his moments to shine throughout this song. Over the course of the live shows, this song will be able to develop into a full on jam, spanning more than 10 minutes, if they decide to perform it that way.

Things slow down with the next song, Lying in the Hands of God. It’s a weaker song, perhaps the weakest of the disc. The melody has faint traces of 1993’s I’ll Back You Up, but the song isn’t as well constructed as that gem. Unfortunately, I found myself skipping this song quite a bit.

Why I Am follows and restores everything to order. According to Dave Matthews, this was LeRoi’s favorite song during the sessions that led to the recording of this album. A rocking song with a solid drum beat delivered by Carter Beauford, Why I Am delivers excitement. The call out to LeRoi on this song is touching as well. Tim Reynolds guitar shines through and is an excellent addition to this track.

Dave’s voice is strong on this disc. The years of singing on the road have not done any damage to his vocal chords as he still sings well. The addition of Tim Reynolds on guitar (his first recording with the band since 1997’s Before These Crowded Streets) is a welcome one. His guitar playing is brilliant and he lends an overall important element to the music.

Boyd Tinsley is amazing on the violin once again. His solo on Funny the Way It Is stands out the most, and Boyd shines throughout the record with exceptional melodies. His string playing is really what gives Dave Matthews Band their unique sound, and it’s noticeable on this record.

Notable tracks on this disc include, Funny the Way It Is, Why I Am, Spaceman, Squirm, and Alligator Pie.

Overall, Big Whisky and the Groogrux King is an exceptional follow up to Stand Up. While the wait between studio albums was extensive, it was also well worth the endurance period. Once again, Dave Matthews Band have given their all in the studio and delivered a well crafted, thought out, polished recording of rock music. This is a record that is certainly worthy of your money and your time, whether you’re a huge fan of the band or not. Dave Matthews Band has delivered a solid, fun, enjoyable record.

Ryo’s Rating: 8.5 (out of 10)

Track List
Grux
Shake Me like A Monkey
Funny the Way It Is
Lying In the Hands of God
Why I am
Spaceman
Squirm
Alligator Pie
Seven
Time Bomb
My Baby Blue
You and Me

Theory of a Deadman - March 15, 2009

On the night before I would see them open for Motley Crue at Madison Square Garden, I decided to watch Theory of a Deadman do their own headlining stint at the Starland Ballroom in Sayreville New Jersey. With my good friend Bobby (who was also attending the Crue concert the next evening) in tow, we hopped in the car and headed down for a night of rocking good times.

On the drive down, we discussed stopping for something to eat and debated on whether we wanted fast food, or to stop and order from a restaurant/bar & grill. I commented that I didn’t care if we missed the opening act, so we had time to get a couple of beers and relax. No need to rush.

Bobby laughed and proclaimed that sometimes the opening bands are great and that it’s a good way to experience new music that you’ve never tried before. While I agreed with his point, I didn’t think that a band called Pop Evil was something I’d want to experience for a second time.

We had a bite to eat and a couple of beers and then headed to the venue. We missed the first opening act, but got in with time to see Pop Evil, who had yet to take the stage. I laughed at the name and thought to myself how good could this band possibly be? However, I had an open mind (as I always try to do with opening acts) and sat back to see them take the stage.

They came out looking like nothing I’ve ever seen before. Their guitarist resembled a shorter Justin Timberlake. The bass player was a captain Jack Sparrow knock-off if I ever saw one, and the lead singer looked girlish. Judging by looks, I wasn’t expecting much out of this band.

By their second song, my thoughts started to change. This band actually wasn’t so bad. They had a decent sound and seemed to bring some energy. When they launched into 100 in a 55, I was hooked. Obviously a lot of people liked this band, because the front of the crowd was singing along with Pop Evil during the hook.

As soon as their set ended, I ran right to the merchandising table to purchase their CD. This band was fantastic live and I wanted to hear them again and again in the privacy of my own home with the headphones on. Bobby laughed at me, recalling our conversation from earlier in the evening. He was right; you never know how good an opening band can be.

We went back into the club and waited for the headliners to take the stage. Neither of us had ever seen Theory before, and I was really looking forward to them. I had been a fan since their debut album and with each album they released, their sound was better and better.

Seeing them perform a headline set in a club was a real treat too. I don’t get to see many shows at the Starland, so when I go, I savor the moment. We stood approximately 50 feet away from the stage and had a great view of everything.

Theory came out and launched into Crutch, which is a decent song, but not one of my favorites. I was not expecting that for their opener. They followed up with By The Way which is another decent song, but again, not one of my favorites. The first two songs filled my head with doubts about how their set would be.

Little Smirk followed and things really picked up from there. Nothing Could Come Between Us, from their debut, was an excellent crowd sing-along, as was Invisible Man. Theory’s debut disc is a fantastic recording that not enough people know about or listen to regularly. Hearing these gems live was a real treat.

Tyler Connolly looked and sounded amazing. His voice was in good form, and even though they were coming to the end of a long tour with Motley Crue, they decided to use an off day to perform their own headlining set. That’s the sign of a band that really gets along with each other and has plans for longevity.

For our show, David Brenner was not behind the bass guitar. He was actually home celebrating the birth of a child. Someone was filling in for him on bass, and did well in his steed. There was a sign held up near the front of stage that read, “We Miss Dave” that Tyler acknowledged.

When the band ripped into Make Up Your Mind my adrenaline kicked into high and the night escalated to another level. This was the first Theory song I ever heard, the song that got me into the band, and it was a song that I loved. Theory performed an incredible version of it, and I was hooked on their live performance from that moment on.

Santa Monica and No Surprise would follow, the later being an excellent, rocking, live version that had the whole audience singing along, stomping their feet, and being loud and proud.

The final song of the main set was up next and Tyler set it up nicely with a quick story about hating to get up in the morning to go to work, you’re too tired, up too late the night before at a Theory of a Deadman show, and now you got to go somewhere that you don’t want to be. Somewhere you hate. The band ripped into Hate My Life and the place went nuts. Everyone was screaming along, myself included, especially when we got to the “my boss is a dick!” part, as unfortunately, that phrase was very poignant in my life during that concert.

Theory would disappear for a moment, only to return for a two song encore. The final song of the night was a real crowd pleaser in Bad Girlfriend. Another song that everyone knew and loved and sang along with, it was a great way to close out the night.

Theory had come, headlined, and blew us away in approximately 95 minutes time. Bobby and I were both thoroughly impressed, and the band moved up the ranks on his list, becoming a new favorite. For me, it cemented the reasons why I liked the band so much. And should the opportunity arise to see them headline again, I’d do it in a heartbeat.

Setlist (to the best of my recollection)
Crutch
By The Way
Little Smirk
Nothing Could Come Between Us
Invisible Man
Better Off
Not Meant To Be
Got It Made
All Or Nothing
Make Up Your Mind
Santa Monica
No Surprise
Hate My Life
Encore
Hating Hollywood
Bad Girlfriend

Friday Night Video

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Changes Are Coming Edition

June marks six months since I’ve launched this little blog. The Rock and Roll Guru has been a lot of fun for me. It’s been a blast writing posts and researching bands and tours. It’s been a thrill meeting new people that are just as insane about and addicted to music as I am, and it’s been an honor to write for other blogs, knowing their request came because of reading The Rock and Roll Guru.

However, as much as I am enjoying the ride, I still feel that I could be doing more – much more, as a matter of fact. So this summer, I am dedicating some additional time to make some changes to the site. They’ll be minor changes at first, tweaks, if you will. Then, as summer evolves, so will the site. I have several ideas of directions that I want to go in, and things that I want to do. I have to flesh all of these ideas out and see which ones are worthy of the additional investment of time. It should be all for the better and by the Fall; I hope that The Rock and Roll Guru is heading in the direction that I have envisioned.

Is there anything that you’d like to see? Any bands that you want more coverage of? Any bands that you think I cover too much? And sorry, no matter what you say, I will always be talking about Kiss. Drop me a line if you’ve got some ideas. I’m always open to suggestions and to improving the site, because without you, the reader, this site would be pretty pointless.

Here’s what rocked this week:

M3 kicked off the summer festival season this past weekend. It is a one day festival of metal mayhem, unlike the four day festivals being held later this summer. This festival was packed to the max with performers and fans alike. Rob Rockitt over at Hard Rock Hideout has his write up of M3 here. Sounds like he had a great time, he just had to do a lot of running.
Rob's review of M3

Not to be outdone, Allyson from Bring Back Glam also attended the festival. Sounds like she had a great time as well. Apparently, your cousin Ryo was the only blogger who wasn’t at this festival. Hmph!
Allyson's review of M3

Paul Di'Anno really needs to shut his mouth. He lives off of Iron Maiden and singing Iron Maiden songs, and then has the audacity to claim that all his songs are better than anything Steve Harris has ever done. Sorry, Paul, but you are quickly losing your legacy with comments like that. It’s a real shame considering all that Steve has done for you over the years. I especially like the comment s in this one. Read all about it here. Paul Di'Anno's rant on Iron Maiden

Eddie Van Halen is another angry musician that needs to pipe down. It’s bad enough you kicked Michael Anthony out, squandered your talent on booze and pills, and ran this once phenomenal band into the ground, now you have to go and talk trash about former members? Come on, Eddie, give me a break. One break coming up…!
Eddie Van Halen speaks his mind

And Michael Anthony’s retort (he makes some real good points):
Michael's comments

More from the shameless self promotion department. My review of Bullet’s Bite The Bullet went up at Hard Rock Hideout this week. You can read it here.
Ryo's review of Bite The Bullet

And finally, here’s an interesting little piece for those of you just starting to get into jazz music. It’s always tough to know where to begin, but this little list may help put you in the right direction.
100 greatest jazz albums

Pop Evil To Join Judas Priest and Whitesnake On Tour

Gaining even more attention and more popularity (rightfully so), Pop Evil will be hitting the road this summer as the opening act for Judas Priest and Whitesnake. This could be the band that puts this tour over the top. Your cousin Ryo wasn’t going to attend this show, but with Pop Evil scheduled to open, I may just have to go after all.

Of course, if I do go, I’ll have to sit in the lawn. The tickets for this tour are on the high side. Prices range from $125 for the best seat, to $50 for a seat, to $26 for the lawn (plus all applicable rip off fees).

Pop Evil are a band really making a name for themselves. They are gaining a lot of attention from the big touring acts; they've opened for Theory of a Deadman, they’ve opened for Buckcherry, they’ve opened for Tesla, and now they’ll be doing a huge summer tour with Whitesnake and Judas Priest. Good for them, they deserve it. Their debut disc is stellar and I have high hopes for this band. They could be up there with Hinder and Airborne as one of the great new bands of the 21st Century.

This tour kicks off on Wednesday, July 1st and runs through the end of August. Before that, Pop Evil will be doing a lot of club dates in support of Lipstick on the Mirror. If you get the chance, go see these guys. They are high energy and an awesome live experience. If you’re not familiar with their work, go get a copy of Lipstick on the Mirror. It’s an excellent disc that any rock fan should own.

Want to know more? Visit their website here: http://www.popevil.com/

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New Release Season Has Arrived

Summer is almost here, and with summer come new releases and summer tours. I always love this time of year, because there is a new release by a great artist almost every week. Record marketing executives work furiously to set these release dates during a time they feel will be optimal for the public to spend their hard earned money.

Although we’ve already been blessed with some great releases this year (most notably U2’s No Line On The Horizon, Papa Roach’s Metamorphosis, and Green Day’s 21st Century Breakdown), there are still several more highly anticipated releases due this year.

This week (Tuesday, June 1st) will bring us Dave Matthews Band’s Big Whiskey and the Groogrux King, Taking Back Sunday’s New Again, and 311’s Uplifter. I can not wait to get my hands on the new Dave Matthews disc, and if all goes well, expect a full review next Sunday. I’ll probably pick up the Taking Back Sunday disc as well, but I may want to hear a few tracks from it before I make my purchase. Their last disc (Louder Now) wasn’t up to the level that I expect from this band, and I don’t want to be disappointed purchasing the album based on new-release hype.

Pete Yorn’s Back and Fourth is due out later this month and is another disc that I can’t wait to get my hands on. Although his last disc, Nightcrawler, wasn’t as great as his previous efforts, it was still a solid disc. I have a feeling that his latest release is going to be amazing.

Wilco (the album) will also hit shelves in June. They’ve already released their concert DVD, Ashes Of American Flags, and now by adding a disc full of new material into the mix, this should amount to a great summer for Wilco.

Our Lady Peace will return to the scene with the release of Burn, Burn on July 21st. I haven’t kept up with this band much since their release of Clumsy in 1997, but the word on their latest is that it’s well polished and a return to their signature sound of the mid-nineties that catapulted them to stardom.

There’s also talk of Phish being in the studio with legendary producer Steve Lillywhite (Dave Matthews Band, Guster) with a fall release date slated. I am really intrigued to see what kind of music Phish can make after being apart for so long. The creativity amongst them must b e overwhelming.

And supposedly, Kiss is still on target for a fall release with their, as of now, untitled disc. That would be the perfect capper to the end of the summer new releases.

What about you? Any releases coming out that you are looking forward to, or can’t wait to hear? Post a comment and share your thoughts!

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