Hinder Announces Campaign For New Album

PledgeMusic is thrilled to announce a new pre-order with Hinder, the five-piece American hard rock band from Oklahoma City. Their soon-to-be-released fifth full-length album, When The Smoke Clears, is coming out on The End Records on May 12th. It will be their first with new lead singer Marshall Dutton, who has been a co-writer/producer for the band since 2009. Hinder was inducted into the Oklahoma Music Hall of Fame in 2007.

Fans can order once-in-a-lifetime opportunities such as a Go-Kart experience and a bar crawling outing with the band. They're also offering one of two signed and road used electric guitars, and an opportunity to assume the professional role of Hinder's tour manager for a day. To pledge support please visit: http://www.pledgemusic.com/projects/hinder

ABOUT PLEDGEMUSIC

PledgeMusic is the world's leading online, direct-to-fan music community, offering artists a unique way to engage their fans in the music making experience while interacting with PledgeMusic's global community of music fans. www.pledgemusic.com 

RYO’S NOTE: I do not want to pass judgment on something I have not heard yet. I have not listened to any song by Hinder with their new lead singer, Marshall Dutton, so I do not know if it rocks. However, Austin Winkler is a hard voice to replace. I was a huge fan of Hinder, even enjoying their final album with Winkler, Welcome To The Freakshow, when most fans panned it. For Hinder, it is almost like they are starting over. That’s not quite fair to the band, but fans are not as forgiving when a new lead singer takes over. While I only wish them the best, Hinder does have an uphill battle in their future.

The Grueling Grind Of The Every Album Challenge

I’ll admit it. I may not have realized what I was getting myself into when I signed up to create and master The Every Album Challenge. The idea of the challenge was so alluring that I felt it was something I just had to do. It would also provide the chance to dig deep into my collection and listen to some albums that I haven’t visited in years, possibly decades. While my intentions were in the right place, the execution was not as well thought out. The Every Album Challenge is becoming… a challenge.

That’s not to say I’m ready to throw in the towel. It’s rare that I quit at anything, I wasn’t built that way. I’ve thought about giving in, that’s for sure, but I haven’t come anywhere close to actually giving up. However, it’s only been two months, talk to me after a year and see if I still feel the same way. Yes, part of the challenge is the fact that I do not get to listen to any new albums (except for review purposes). With a new Pop Evil coming soon and Kiss in the studio, there are going to be some days where this challenge seems near impossible. However, right now my biggest hurdle has been selection.

I’ve listened to 100 of the 2,053 albums in my collection. That means 100 albums can no longer be played. Some of my best discs have already been listened to and I may not hear them again for 3 years. So when I am making a selection about what to listen to next, I have to carefully consider many outside factors. The first question I usually ask myself is “can I go years without hearing this again?” That’s why I have not played my Gaslight Anthem CDs yet. I’m saving them for the right moment. Other albums, like Hinder’s All American Nightmare, I just HAD to hear one day. Now that I’ve played it – it’s gone until the end of the challenge. That’s very sad. No more All American Nightmare. No more “Red Tail Lights.” No more “What You Gonna Do?” That hurts. And yet, at the time I chose to play it, I was yearning to hear the record, so I gave in.

The other problem with this challenge is remembering what records I’ve already listened to. Yes, I have a spreadsheet to keep score, which is great when I’m home. When I’m on the road and ready to fire up the IPod though, it becomes an issue. I have to stop and think “Did I listen to this album yet?” If I’m not sure, it means that I can’t play it. Sometimes I end up putting on the radio instead, just to be safe. That gets to be tiresome. It flat out sucks when you want to listen to an album and then can’t because you can’t remember if the record has been listened to or not. The only thing worse than that is when I really want to listen to an album only to discover I’ve already played it. As this challenge wears on, I am certain that scenario is going to play out more and more. That could be the issue that drives me over the edge and leads to failure. Here’s hoping that I can continue to be strong.

Albums Listened To: 105
Albums Remaining: 1,948

Hinder - All American Nightmare

Just when it appears that all of the great albums have been released for 2010, Hinder comes around and drops a record that is so intense it makes everyone reconsider their best of list.

Hinder’s third release was recently unleashed on the head banging masses in the form of All American Nightmare. All I can say is Holy Hell, what a record! Hinder has put out two solid records prior, nothing groundbreaking or ear shattering, but nothing to slouch at either. Both their debut album, Extreme Behavior, and their sophomore follow up, Take It To The Limit were strong recordings centered on fun rock and roll. Their latest album is so much more. Between the end of the Take It To The Limit tour and the release of All American Nightmare, something happened to this band. They evolved. All American Nightmare could possibly be the best album I’ve listened to in 2010.

Leading off with 2 Sides Of Me the band immediately sets the tone that this is not your previous Hinder record. Heavier on guitar, darker in theme, and much more polished in production, this album is one for the collection. 2 Sides Of Me is a hard rocking anthem to bipolarity brought on by excess booze. I suppose it happens to the best of us.

All American Nightmare, the song, keeps the rock going strong. Opening with a quick strum of the guitar, All American Nightmare explodes into a wave of hard rock music with Austin Winkler’s voice sounding better than ever. Another ode to sleaze, good times, and loving the ladies, All American Nightmare is the Hinder music that we know and love.

Ballads of the album are plentiful and include: What Ya Gonna Do, The Life, and Red Tail Lights. What Ya Gonna Do is a sonnet to stop using alcohol as a medication and trying to make yourself a better person. The Life is all about reflection. Winkler sings of working so hard to get somewhere in life, only to arrive and find that it’s actually not so marvelous. Red Tail Lights is my favorite song on the album (I’ve already played it 22 times (according to the stats on my iPod). A power ballad that is certain to be a smash single for Hinder, Red Tail Lights is a song about trying to save a relationship that is certain to be destroyed due to suspicions, doubt, and uncertainty. Winkler sings the pain and the listener feels it. This is a powerful song.

The closing number on the album, Put That Record On, is homage to the music that Hinder grew up listening to. Packed with references to their favorite bands and songs, Put That Record On is a fun song and a great way to end a fantastic album.

Lyrically, All American Nightmare shows both sides of a writer. There are flashes of brilliance and originality in some lines, while others are littered in clichés. Lines that stand out (as good) include: red tail lights in the pouring rain (it conjures such an image); I’ll be your prom king early/your Mr. Clean charming your momma at your front door (from 2 Sides Of Me); and I live a life of no regrets, they’re on their way but ain’t here yet (from What Ya Gonna Do). The last is an amazing line. It’s a simple combination of words that are always used touching on a theme that’s been played to death, yet Hinder gives it originality by twisting the lyrics ever so slightly. Yes, outside writers contributed to this record, but the heart of the lyrics belong to Hinder.

All American Nightmare has taken Hinder to the cusp of greatness. While the weak spots on the record prevent them from going over the top and being the greatest rock band of the new millennium, they are as close as can be. The tour behind this record will push Hinder into the next stratosphere and by this summer you will be hearing one of the 3 power ballads (most likely Red Tail Lights) all over every radio station. All American Nightmare is Hinder’s breakthrough album, the one that takes them to the next level, much like All The Right Reasons did for Nickelback and Scars and Souvenirs did for Theory of a Deadman. Hinder is a summer tour away from taking over the world and All American Nightmare is the album they will take it over with.

Ryo’s Rating: 8.5 (out of 10)

Track Listing
2 Sides Of Me
All American Nightmare
What Ya Gonna Do
Hey Ho
The Life
Waking Up The Devil
Red Tail Lights
Striptease
Everybody’s Wrong
Put That Record On

The 10 Best Emerging Artists of the Past Decade

As the decade comes to a close, everyone is putting out their best albums of the decade list, their best this of the decade and their best that of the decade. I thought about doing those too, but then I figured why would I just regurgitate what I’ve read on several other blogs? What would be the point in that? So, for the end of the decade festivities, cousin Ryo is pleased to present his 10 favorite (or the 10 best if you prefer) emerging artists of the past decade.

The criteria for this post is that the band had to release their major label debut album between 2000 and 2009, had to be a pretty big hit (either in sales or radio play), and preferably were a band that everyone who reads this blog would have heard about at some point over the last decade. Deep independents, unfortunately, weren’t going to make the cut, no matter how great they were. With that in mind, here are my picks for the 10 most emerging artists of the 2000s.

Ryan Adams
http://www.losthighwayrecords.com/ryanadams/news

Pulling out of the ashes of the defunct Whiskeytown, Ryan Adams ventured out on his own this past decade. His first release was 2000s Heartbreaker. Things only got better from there. In the years since his solo debut, Adams went on to form an incredible backing band (The Cardinals), released a slew of albums, and ended the decade by retiring from the music business. If he is truly done making music, Adams has left a legacy in his wake. With amazing albums like Cold Roses, Gold, and Easy Tiger (just to name a few), Adams gave his all this past decade. Every album is a treasure to hang onto and worth repeated listens. His onstage antics were well documented, and unfortunately, his hearing was compromised, which led to his early retirement. Adams is a musical and lyrical genius and definitely one of the best artists of this past decade.

Airbourne
http://www.airbournerock.com/

Barreling in like a bat out of hell, Airbourne stormed the scene in 2007 with their self-titled debut album. Carrying a very AC/DC sound and kicking it up (to 11), Airbourne made a name for themselves through hard work, word of mouth, plenty of touring, and by making great music. Their sophomore set is due out next year, and while there is always a risk for the dreaded sophomore jinx, Airbourne’s debut was so solid, that I think they will be safe. Their independent debut EP sells on E-Bay for hundreds of dollars which shows the existing demand for the band. Airbourne truly brought back the rock and that’s what makes them one of the top emerging artists of the 2000s.

Hinder
http://www.hindermusic.com/new

There is a reason that Hinder makes this list other than the fact that they released one of the hugest radio singles ever (Lips of an Angel) and other than the fact that they’ve put out two incredible rock albums, and other than the fact that they’ve toured as an opening act for some of the biggest names in rock and roll. The reason that Hinder makes this list is because they have so many haters. A band with that many haters can’t be anything but huge! I personally think that Hinder are this decade’s BuckCherry (who were dubbed the saviors of rock back in 1999). Hinder has brought back party rock and raunch like no other band before them. Their sleaze metal of drinking, smoking, partying, and loving women is just great fun. And of course there are the huge power ballads that the chicks love and sing at the top of their lungs. Yeah, Hinder is definitely one of the best bands to come out in the past ten years and they are a shooting star the likes of which we haven’t seen in a long time. Hinder will be selling out arenas with their next release and they are going to be bigger than any hair metal band you can name (except maybe Guns N Roses). Hinder is that good.

Nickelback
http://www.nickelback.com/

After releasing their major label debut, Silver Side Up, in 2001, Nickelback went down a path of hard work and constant touring on their journey toward excellence, winning over fans the old fashioned way, one at a time. It wasn’t until the release of All The Right Reasons that superstardom was achieved, but once they were there, they never looked back. Nickelback may be hated by a lot of music snobs, especially the heavy metal crowd who write them off as wannabes, but it’s simply not true. Nickelback, while perhaps not the most innovative band of all time, are a fun band that rock. Their songs are catchy, radio friendly, and exceptional. They’re amazing in concert, and Nickelback is a band that you can just fall in love with. Numbers don’t lie, which is why they’re one of the top 10 emerging artists of the past decade. They are certainly the biggest thing to come out in the past ten years, and that’s true whether you love them or not.

Papa Roach
http://www.paparoach.com/

While not much was made of Papa Roach after their debut album, Infest, was released, Papa Roach has used the past decade to really build a following and brand their name. After the small success of Infest, the band knew they had something. They slowly started to drift away from their rap/rock hybrid and focused their energies more on the rock. It was The Paramour Sessions, their 4th CD, which pushed them over the top. All the while they had been building toward that sound, style, and level of enjoyableness. The Paramour Sessions is Papa Roach’s strongest album by far, and they continued that sound to their next (and current) album. Slowly Papa Roach is winning over a fan base of younger fans, as they continue to tour with bands like Motley Crue, Nickelback, and BuckCherry. They are one of the hardest bands to come out this past decade, and I think that they are going to be around for a long time. I look forward to a future with Papa Roach.

Pop Evil
http://www.popevil.com/

Brand new to the scene with their debut album (Lipstick on the Mirror) coming out just last year, this pick may come as a surprise. However, your cousin Ryo has spent countless hours with this disc, seen the band live, and knows the potential that they have. Pop Evil really can be the next big thing. If they can avoid the sophomore jinx and put out another record that even comes close to the brilliance of their debut, Pop Evil will be fine. Their live show is fun, their music is hard rock with a couple of great ballads, and their lyric writing is strong. Pop Evil takes me back to the days of high school, when hair metal ruled the airwaves and we were always waiting for the next big band to blow us away. Pop Evil is one of those groups. They are in the upper echelon of greatness and I really look forward to an amazing future for this band.

Shinedown
http://www.shinedown.com/

If Shinedown had not released The Sound of Madness last year, they would not be on this list. While their first two albums are good ones, it was their current album that launched this band into the stratosphere. A huge breakout album filled with a bunch of top 10 radio hits, The Sound of Madness is an incredible hard rock record with power. It provides Shinedown with their signature sound and put them on the map. Touring incessantly since the release, Shinedown has built a following released 4 top 10 singles and are showing no signs of slowing down. They are scheduled to open for Nickelback in 2010 and also plan a headlining tour of their own. There’s no word on when they will return to the studio to record their follow up, but that’s probably because that album is still selling like crazy and churning out the hits. Shinedown is rock’s version of the little engine that could. Each album got better and better until they exploded the rock and roll world with an extremely incredible record. If they can follow up this smash success with another strong album, Shinedown will be around for a long time.

The Reformation of Son Volt
http://www.sonvolt.net/

Technically adding Son Volt to this list is cheating, as their debut album came out in 1995. However, in 1998, Jay Farrar broke up the band and went solo. This past decade, he reformed the group with all new members and released the brilliant Okemah and the Melody of Riot. Son Volt gets added to this list because they are a new band with a new sound that is simply excellent, using an old name. Farrar showed his ability as a songwriter this past decade. The Search followed Okemah and is hands down the best work that Jay has ever recorded (yes, that includes his time with Uncle Tupelo). The Search was one of those rare albums that are such an unexpected masterpiece; it reminds everyone of what music can be. The power and emotion put forth in that disc is what made it stand out. If I were putting together a list of the best albums of the past decade (which I’m not) The Search would be in the top 5. This past year, Son Volt released American Central Dust, and while not as good as their prior release, it is still a solid album, falling back on the more country roots of Jay Farrar. With three albums released in the 00s, the future is promising for the new Son Volt. I hope that they will be around for a long time, releasing even more great music.

Theory of a Deadman
http://www.theoryofadeadman.com/

Theory of a Deadman is another band that took their time climbing to the top of the charts and reaching for superstardom. Like Shinedown, it was their third (and current) release that solidified their spot on this list. Their self-titled debut drew a lot of attention and their follow up (Gasoline) was an excellent disc, but it was the release of Scars and Souvenirs that pushed Theory to the doorstep of superstardom. This has been a very productive decade for the Canadian band discovered by Chad Kroeger at the start of the decade. Overcoming the Nickelback wannabe comparisons, Theory branched out on their own, created their own signature sound, and released two major anthems in Bad Girlfriend and the insanely popular Hate My Life. These songs took Theory to the next level and while they are currently scheduled for a headlining club tour in early 2010, it wouldn’t surprise me to see them headlining their own amphitheater tour this summer. Theory is that good and their album continues to sell and climb the charts. It’s only a matter of time before they smash through the upper stratosphere of greatness. Cousin Ryo will be content watching every step of the journey for this great band.


The White Stripes
http://www.thewhitestripes.com/

No one could argue that The White Stripes were one of the biggest stories of the past decade. Prolific writer Jack White not only fronted his own band (with partner Meg White), he also went on to front two other bands. White’s writing never stales and he appears to have an endless supply. White Blood Cells was the major release debut that put The White Stripes on the map and it was the humongous single Fell In Love With A Girl that had me discover (and eventually fall in love with) them. From their debut through the rest of the decade, The White Stripes would release several fantastic albums. Jack White was this past decade’s Bob Dylan, producing poetic, deep lyrics, and creating new sounds and styles of music that other bands had never tried. The future of music is safe in his hands. They blasted onto the scene in the 00s and it looks like they are here to stay, which is a very good thing for music lovers.

And there it is. Cousin Ryo’s 10 emerging artists of the 2000s. Disagree with this list? Got your own opinion that you’d like to share? Jump on in and tell the Guru your choices for the ten most emerging artists of the past decade!

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

The Changing Of The Guards Part Three

In this three part series, I’m examining the bands that are on their way out, the bands that are in their prime, and the bands that are ready to take over the spotlight.

Part One: Bands Near Retirement can be found here: http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/11/changing-of-guards-part-one.html

and

Part Two: Bands In Their Prime is here: http://rockandrollguru.blogspot.com/2009/11/changing-of-guard-part-two.html

Part Three: Bands Ready To Take The Limelight

Buckcherry
Although they have been together for over 10 years, Buckcherry are still new to the total domination of the world. Huge in the States, and gathering force throughout the rest of the world, Buckcherry is but one major headlining world tour away from being the next powerhouse, poised to stay around for 20, 30, or more years. When the band is on their game, they are unstoppable, as they showed during both the CrueFest and their current opening slot on the Kiss tour. Behind the album 15 they went on a never ending tour that lasted over 300 shows, which proves their commitment to their art. And the more a band tours, the larger the fan base they are going to attract. If there’s a band ready to be thrust into the spotlight and fill the void left by bands that are moving on or falling apart, Buckcherry is the band to accomplish just that. They are ready to take it to the next level and show the world what they are all about.



Papa Roach
Hot on the heels of Buckcherry is another exceptional band that not enough fans know about yet, Papa Roach. This is a band that has also been around for 10 years and has slowly built a loyal, die-hard following, one fan at a time. Their live show is insane with energy, the likes of which you’ve never seen. Lead singer Jacoby Shaddix is a madman in concert, always providing unlimited entertainment, interacting with the fans, and involving the crowd in every way possible. When performing live, Papa Roach deliver fans their money’s worth every single performance. Their musical style is evolving, and they are winning over new fans while keeping their longtime fans satisfied. With tours that never seem to end in between hit records, Papa Roach shows no signs of slowing down or calling it quits. They are here for the long haul and they are poised to take over as one of the next huge hard rock acts.



Hinder
With their next release (which will hopefully be out in 2010), Hinder is going to take over the rock world. There is no holding them back anymore, they are a band on the edge and they need just one more hit record to spring them into eternal greatness. Partying the likes of Guns N Roses, Van Halen, or Motley Crue in their heydays, producing exceptional rock and roll music complete with huge power ballads for the girls, and raunchy rockers for the guys, Hinder is a PR man’s dream. Both of their releases are smashing successes filled with excellent songs that sound even better live. The more you listen to this band, the bigger a fan you become. Haters (and there are plenty of them) take note: Hinder is the next level of greatness and they are going to be around for a very long time.



Theory of a Deadman
Although having been together since the early 2000s, Theory of a Deadman recently exploded across the scene with the massive Scars & Souvenirs, their third studio album. Backed by the radio friendly, chart topping hits, Bad Girlfriend, So Happy, and the teenage angst ridden, young adult understanding, older upset male chanting anthem, Hate My Life, Theory of a Deadman have found their voice and their audience. Initially written off as a Nickelback wannabe band, Theory have shown that they are worthy of their own audience of devout fans. Winning people over on the Motley Crue tour (twice) and crossing the country on their own club tour, Theory is getting road tested and proving their worth. Within 5 years, this will be the hottest ticket in town.



Nickleback
Love them or hate them, Nickelback is here to stay. They are one (two at the most) release away from launching themselves into the bands in their prime category and going down in history as a must see show. I know the haters want to write them off faster than Creed, but Nickelback is a band having fun, making great rock music, and living to perform live. While they record solid, pop radio friendly power ballads and cheese rock, there’s something about their music that just makes you feel good. And that feel good intensity carries over into their stage show. They put on a great performance every night, get the fans excited, interactive with them on every conceivable level, and give their best every time they hit the stage. Extensive nonstop touring behind their last two releases has only helped the band gain in popularity. Bringing out hot opening acts like Papa Roach, Breaking Benjamin, or Seether show their versatility and willingness to break into other markets, while opening those bands to Nickelback’s plethora of rabid fans. With their show and stage antics, Nickelback are true performers at heart. They don’t just go up and perform, behind the leadership of frontman Chad Kroeger, they put on a show. And it is that showmanship that is going to keep these guys rocking until the 2030s and beyond.



Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Old Friends Edition

This weekend, my friend Richard is visiting from North Carolina. Richard and I have been friends for many years and a few years ago he moved from New Jersey to North Carolina, making it harder for us to see each other. We keep in touch regularly, but I really look forward to visiting him or when he visits us.

We have a lot planned for his stay this time around, including a trek into New York City. It’s been a long time since I’ve gone into the city to do any “touristy” stuff. That could be a great time. Whatever we do though, it’s just going to be a blast spending time together and catching up. It’s always nice visiting with close friends. No one understands or accepts you better.

And while I was preparing my house for guests, here’s what rocked this week:

Hinder Still Touring
Hinder is going on a short tour of the Midwest for the month of November. It’s good to see that these guys are still out there supporting Take It To The Limit. If my calculations are correct, Hinder is going to take over the rock world in 2011.

Carly Simon Is Suing Starbucks Due To Lack Of Album Sales
Ummm… maybe the reason your album didn’t sell well is because your career is no longer significant?

Wilco Announces First 2010 Dates
Nothing in my area yet, but hopefully they will come to Jersey this spring. It’s been years since I’ve since Wilco live. Perhaps I need to travel more.

Paul McCartney’s Live Disc Track Listing
Sir Paul has a live 2-disc, 1-DVD set coming out on November 23rd from the concerts he performed at Citi Field in New York earlier this year. Looks like a great selection of songs.

Phish Fall Tour
Phish is staying on the road this fall. The best part? Three nights at Madison Square Garden. Tickets go on sale Friday, October 23rd.

Nickelback - July 21, 2009

As part of our “stay”cation this year, my wife, stepdaughter, and I went to see Nickelback perform at the PNC Bank Arts Center in Holmdel, New Jersey. Opening acts were Saving Able, Papa Roach, and Hinder. Being a huge fan of Nickelback as well as Papa Roach and Hinder, I was more than excited to see this concert.

It would be the second time that the three of us were seeing a Nickelback concert in 2009, and the third time overall (click here for my previous Nickelback concert review). Both of the previous performances were memorable experiences, so there was no reason to expect anything different from this show at the Arts Center. Our tickets put us on the lawn, so there was bound to be a little more debauchery than we were accustomed to seeing during a Nickelback concert, I just didn’t realize how much more.

It rained on our way to the concert, so we knew the lawn was going to be muddy and wet. When we arrived at the Center, it was still raining and there was uncertainty about when it would stop. We went inside and found a spot on the lawn just as Saving Able was into their performance.

I haven’t gotten into Saving Able. I like their songs when they come on the radio, but haven’t gotten into them the way that I’ve gotten into other new bands. Saving Able is all right, I just don’t think they’re anything special. Their three radio hits, Drowning, 18, and Addicted, were performed, as well as a couple of songs I didn’t know. Their set was short, but their performance was decent.

After Saving Able, the rain had stopped and it was time for Papa Roach. I’m a huge fan of Papa Roach and kept insisting to my stepdaughter that she was going to be a huge fan by the end of their set. She didn’t know much Papa Roach and the more I suggested she listen to them, the less she did.


Papa Roach stormed the stage, opening with Getting Away With Murder. They came out a ball of fire, Jacoby Shaddix shouting and demanding that the fans get on their feet and get ready to enjoy a rock show. Their new drummer, Tony Palmero, didn’t seem well versed in the opening song. His drum beat was off a note compared with the rest of the band. It was noticeable and took away from the song, which is a shame. Getting Away With Murder is such a strong song and a great opener.

Papa Roach would take off from there. Tony recovered nicely after the opening song and settled into a groove, not missing a beat for the rest of the night. Jacoby Shaddix, who I think is one of the greatest frontmen in the history of rock and roll, was letting it all out on the stage that night. Giving his all, Jacoby sang with venom, worked the crowd, and even jumped into the crowd, similar to what he did at Cruefest similar to what he did at Cruefest. Jacoby was a monster and led the band on a tear.

Hollywood Whore, I Almost Told You That I Loved You, and Lifeline were played from the new album. Classic hits included, Scars, Between Angels and Insects, and …To Be Loved. The big closer was their first ever hit, the song that put them on the map, Last Resort. They did an amazing version and the fans ate up their entire set.

After Papa Roach left the stage, I turned to my stepdaughter and smiled. She begrudgingly admitted that I was right. She loved Papa Roach and wanted to get all of their albums. I smiled inside, happy to have influenced her into liking good rock and roll.


Hinder was up next. I had only seen them once, back in March, when they opened for Motley Crue. I didn’t remember much from that set, but knew they put on a great performance. My stepdaughter was excited to see them, as she, like myself, was a big Hinder fan. My wife was just sitting through the opening acts, waiting to get to Nickelback. She wasn’t a fan of any of the opening bands, and Papa Roach’s performance did not make her embrace the band. She had similar feelings for Hinder.

Hinder launched with Use Me, and the version they played was note perfect. It matched the album spot on. Hinder sounded excellent and by the time they got to their second song, Take It To The Limit, the lawn was packed. Whoever had missed Saving Able and Papa Roach, apparently didn’t want to miss Hinder.

During Hinder’s set, I noticed all the lawn drunks. There were those behind us spilling beer all over themselves. There were big women mud wrestling in front of us. Girls dressed in clothing that was much to revealing for their shape (quite unflattering). Girls taking their clothing off. Guys doing the same and showing way too much ass crack. There were fights, pot smokers, drunks, and of course, people wiping out in the mud. Flip flops are not good footwear when the mud is an inch thick.

Hinder, meanwhile, was ripping it up on stage. When they got to Lips of an Angel, the entire Arts Center was on their feet, singing word for word back to the band. Hinder is on the verge of launching their career into the next stratosphere, and I really believe that by their next album, Hinder is going to be headlining their own shows. My stepdaughter and I sang Lips of an Angel along with everyone else and it was the moment of the night up to that point; an incredible feeling to witness the crowd interaction for that mega hit.

The band would close with Get Stoned, a much enjoyed closer. At the end of their set, Hinder took a standing ovation back into the dressing room. They had dominated the Nickelback crowd and converted quite a few more fans by the end of their night.

The main event was next, what we had all been waiting for, especially Mrs. Vie. She was polite through the opening acts, but they weren’t really for her. My wife loves Nickelback, and she was excited to be seeing them again.


I enjoy Nickelback concerts a lot, but when they opened with the same three songs as the March concert (Something In Your Mouth, Because of You, and Photograph), I had to wonder if I was going to be witnessing the same show from months earlier. Not that it would have been horrible, I just wanted a different performance. I had no idea for the surprise I was about to receive.

Chad Kroger is a delightful frontman. He can sing, he’s charming, he’s good looking, and he tells a good story, especially when setting up a song. He can get the audience to eat out of his hand with very little effort. Chad has true confidence as a lead singer and it shows during his on stage performances.

By the time the band got to Figured You Out, the show was rocking. They played a smashing, heavy version of that song and really punched up their performance. This is one of the best songs in their catalog, and I was pleased that they performed it with such integrity.

A double shot of slow songs followed, both excellent tunes. Savin’ Me and Far Away did the back-to-back ballad bunch that made my wife smile (she loves the slow songs).

After that, it was time for the moment of the night. Chad even announced that there were some critics in the audience who might not have been having a good time, but this would be the turning point for them and they were going to write about the concert the next day.

I was curious, expecting some lame stunt, or other such nonsense. The band kicked into Highway To Hell by AC/DC, and I thought, “all right, that’s different.” But it wasn’t anything super amazing. The first time I saw Nickelback they did a cover of Elton John’s Saturday Night’s Alright For Fighting, so this was just a heavier cover song.

Then the band brought out Austin Winkler from Hinder and Jacoby Shaddix from Papa Roach to sing the song with them. I was smiling wide as the performance just got more interesting. Jacoby was wearing a Brian Johnson type derby on his head, in homage to the great AC/DC singer. This was a pretty cool moment for the concert.

Then the unthinkable happened, a moment I never would have guessed in a thousand years. Chad Kroger leaned into the microphone and announced “Ladies and Gentlemen…Mr. ACE FREHLEY!” I was stunned.

My wife and stepdaughter looked at me with huge grins, as they know how much I love Kiss. Seeing Ace Frehley step on stage with Nickelback, and Jacoby Shaddix, and Austin Winkler was just mind boggling. I was speechless. All I could do was scream along with the rest of the audience. This was amazing.

Ace, of course, was flawless. He played a brilliant solo in tribute to Angus Young and finished the song proper. At the end of the tune, all the special guests took a bow. It was an incredible moment. I wasn’t even aware that Nickelback knew Ace Frehley, let alone that they were close enough with him for a guest appearance. Awesome!

The rest of the night was still solid, but for me, nothing would top that moment. They followed Highway To Hell with a brilliant version of Gotta Be Somebody, which has slowly become my favorite Nickelback tune ever. It’s an amazing song meant for summertime road trips. Roll down the windows and blast the tune on your way to the beach.

Burn It To The Ground was also performed with intensity and I was very happy to hear that song as well. What they didn’t play was This Afternoon, which was somewhat disappointing, as I like that song a lot. But, I guess the tradeoff was getting Ace Frehley to come out on stage. I’d sacrifice one good song for that. We definitely got our money’s worth.

Once again Nickelback came to my town, conquered, and left us breathless and screaming for more. If they come back next year, I’m probably going to see them again. They really are that good and this coming from a guy who has seen a lot of concerts. Nickelback is up there with the best of them.

Setlist
Something In Your Mouth
Because of You
Photograph
Figured You Out
Savin’ Me
Far Away
Highway to Hell (w/ Jacoby Shaddix, Austin Winkler, and Ace Frehley)
Gotta Be Somebody
If Everyone Cared
Friends In Low Places (partial)
If Today Was Your Last Day
Rockstar
Burn It To The Ground
How You Remind Me
Too Bad
Encore
Someday
Animals

Motley Crue - March 16, 2009

The day after Bobby and I went to see Theory of a Deadman at the Starland Ballroom, we went into New York City to witness Motley Crue, Hinder, Theory, and The Last Vegas at Madison Square Garden, the Mecca of concert venues. It was a planned day of fun, excitement, and plenty of drinking that we were looking forward to. Bobby hooked us up with a stretch limo (I believe it was an excursion) and we were arriving at the Garden in style.


March was a very bad month for me work-wise. It’s when I first realized how horrendous things at my office were, how much of an ass my boss really was, and how badly I needed to find a new job. It was a nightmare time in my life and it was affecting me outside of the office in very negative ways. One of those negative reactions was to hit the bottle hard and party like a rock star whenever the opportunity presented itself. It was a way to self medicate and forget the struggles and challenges of working for an extremely difficult and demanding boss that constantly barked about all the negative factors while never highlighting any positive ones.

Knowing we had a limo to the city and a ride back, I decided to take advantage of an early start time. By noon, I was cracking the tops off of cold beer on my couch while waiting for Bobby to arrive. By 2PM (when he finally arrived), I had been through a six pack and we were hitting the liquor store for some beer to enjoy on the ride in. By the time we got to the city, I had drained four more beers and was feeling good. The issues of my job and boss were a distant memory deep in the bowels of my brain.

Upon arriving into the city, Bobby and I immediately set forth to find a bar where we could enjoy a nice lunch and consume more beer. We found a cool place near the Garden, ate some good food, and drank more beer. After that, we found another bar for another beer (or three). When we left that bar, I had lost count of how many beers were consumed, I was feeling really good, borderline drunk off my ass and knew it was going to be one heck of a night, although I wasn’t sure how much of it would be remembered. At the time, consuming all of that beer seemed like a great idea. In hindsight, it probably was not the smartest play.

We got to the Garden, got through the doors, and found our seats while The Last Vegas was on the stage. We missed most of their set, but from the two and a half songs that I did get to hear, they sounded pretty solid. They were the band that controversially won the rights to open for Motley Crue on this tour. Some critics claim that it was a set up, that The Last Vegas was going to win from the start, especially since they were a late add on to the contest. I’m not sure how true that is, but Motley may have added a late ringer if they were not confident in the bands in the competition.

Once we were settled in and The Last Vegas had finished their performance, Bobby disappeared for the Men’s room and I waited for Theory of a Deadman to take the stage. Having just seen them the night before, I was very excited for their Garden performance. It was common knowledge that they had a time limit for their set, but I was still looking forward to seeing them for the second time.


They opened with Crutch, just as they had the night before, and their portion of the show was off and running. Bobby showed up in the middle of the song and immediately thrust another beer into my hands. Cheers! Theory performed a condensed version of the show they did the night before in New Jersey. Expected hits included Santa Monica, Make Up Your Mind, All Or Nothing¸ and Hate My Life. I sang every word to that one as loud as I could, especially the “my boss is a dick!” part. Theory closed with Bad Girlfriend and while their set was tight and short, it was amazing. The played as good on the Garden stage as they had on the small stage at the Starland Ballroom. Bobby was thrilled and had a new favorite band after seeing them perform for the second night in a row.


Hinder was up next and by this time, the beer was really getting to me. I’m going to be honest; the rest of the night gets to be a little bit of a blur. I remember things here and there, but by the time Hinder took the stage, I was on my whotheheckknowshowmanyth beer and feeling real good.

Hinder opened with Use Me and their sound was solid. Use Me is a great song and a good lead off for their portion of the night. Expected songs included Take It To The Limit, Up All Night, Lips of an Angel, and Get Stoned as their big closer. Hinder is a big time party band and they bring that party to the stage. Austin Winkler has charm and appeal and is a great rock and roll front man. While not over the top in their performance, the band put on a solid set and sold their music to the crowd, who were grateful and appreciative.


When Hinder left, there was only one band remaining – Motley Crue. Vince Neil would be out there singing every third word, Mick Mars would be stiff as a board, barely moving (yet still oh-so-cool) on one end of the stage, Tommy Lee would be the endless child that he is, and Nikki Sixx would be the mastermind behind it all. Way too talented a lyricist for this group of bad boys. Why exactly do we love Motley again? Oh yeah, they’re the only group that could make this combination work and produce hits like no other band.

They started off with the exceptional Kickstart My Heart and Vince was running around the stage, still overweight, still missing the high notes, and still singing every third word. Mick stood in the corner, due to his medical condition, and still was the coolest guy on the stage. Mick Mars is a genius on guitar and one of the most under-appreciated guitarists in rock.

Kickstart led to Wild Side, which led to Shout at the Devil, and the night had begun. I don’t recall much after Shout. The beer drinking day kicked in hard. I know I had a great time. I know I enjoyed Motley on stage and revisiting their setlist, it looks like they played some kick ass songs.


So, how sad is this? I went to the concert and can’t remember them playing On With The Show or Jailhouse Rock. I was at the freaking concert! So, for the record, this is the only concert that I was that inebriated for. I’ve been to a lot of concerts, I’ve never drank myself through one. Well, there’s a first time for everything I suppose.

Bobby had a car pick us up and take us home after the show. He loved the concert. I loved the stop at McDonald’s right before we got into the car. I made it to the Lincoln Tunnel before I passed out cold. What a day, what a night. What a shame my drinking decision wasn’t a little bit wiser. Party on, dudes!


Setlist
Kickstart My Heart
Wild Side
Shout At The Devil
Saints of Los Angeles
Motherfucker of the Year
Live Wire
Too Fast For Love
On With The Show
Jailhouse Rock
White Trash Circus
Don’t Go Away Mad (Just Go Away)
Same ‘Ol Situation
Primal Scream
Looks That Kill
Girls, Girls, Girls
Dr. Feelgood
Encore
Home Sweet Home

Hinder Rocks

I know there are a lot of Hinder haters out there (although I still don’t fully understand why), but after experiencing them live for the second time this year, I have to say that the haters are just wrong. Most Hinder haters proclaim that the band brings nothing new to the world of rock music, they are rehashing old riffs and ripping off old lyrics, and they will be just a memory in a few years. I have to disagree.

When I saw Hinder for the first time (opening for Motley Crue) I was excited to see them live. I own both of their discs and consider them excellent pieces of music. When they performed in March at Madison Square Garden, I thought they put on an excellent show. The crowd was into them, and they showed that they are a band bringing the party back to rock. Their stage presence signified that they are having as much fun as a rock band can, and to me, that defines a great hard rock act – having fun while playing great music.

Last week I saw Hinder open for Nickelback. They went on stage just after Papa Roach. I love Papa Roach and think they should be headlining their own shows, but I think that Hinder is one album away from doing the same. By the time they took the stage, the PNC Bank Arts Center was filled to capacity. Obviously the Nickelback crowd didn’t want to miss this opening act. Hinder performed 40 minutes of solid hits. Their sound was impeccable, and the crowd reaction was stunning. When they performed Lips of An Angel, the entire audience was on their feet singing every word back to the band. Granted, this is probably their biggest hit, but crowd reaction doesn’t lie. Hinder is a big time band that puts on a great rock concert.

Their lyrics and musically style may not be innovative in the vein of Led Zeppelin or Pink Floyd, but let’s be honest, how many bands are? Hinder is just a simple rock and roll band that makes great, catchy tunes with well written lyrics, for hard rock enthusiasts to enjoy. Their first album, Extreme Behavior, was one of the greatest debut releases I’ve heard in a long time. Hinder was able to take that success and follow it up nicely with their second (and current) disc, Take It To The Limit. With songs about women, drinking, and partying, they are a throwback to the hard rocking days of the 80s; a bunch of guys who make rocking music. What is wrong with that?

The haters are still out there, but I have to say, they are going to dwindle in numbers as this band continues to catch on. By the time their tour with Nickelback is finished, Hinder will be a household name. The future looks fantastic for them, and I am going to enjoy being along for the entire ride.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.

Nickelback - PNC Arts Center

As part of our vacation this week, my wife, step-daughter, and I went to see Nickelback at PNC Bank Arts Center. Opening acts were Saving Able, Papa Roach, and Hinder. Expect a full, comprehensive review in the coming weeks (or possibly months). In the meantime, I would like to post some random thoughts and observations.

First, I have to admit how cool it is for me being able to rock out with my step-daughter. Standing next to her and my wife, singing every word to every song, having her sing it with me, it’s a feeling that’s hard to top. It reminds me of days with my Dad when we would sing at the top of our lungs in his car, or in the living room. Those were good times.

I’ve seen a lot of things at concerts over the years; drunkenness, foolishness, and a lot of stupidity. I’ve seen public urination. I’ve seen public urination by women. I’ve seen naked women. I’ve seen naked men. I’ve seen people fall and slide on the lawn. I’ve seen heavily tattooed women want to live like they were twenty years younger than they really are. I have to say, with everything I’ve seen over the years, last night really was the worst I’ve seen in a long time.

Maybe it was because I was attending with my step-daughter and therefore I was sober and more attentive to what was happening around us. Maybe it’s because we were on the lawn where more crazy things are bound to happen. Who knows, but I saw some messed up people last night.

It was raining for a good portion of the night, so the lawn was soaked and muddied by the time we got to the venue. As the night wore on, the fans got drunker, and the stupidness got worse. I saw (both women and men) practically get naked. I witnessed two girls mud wrestle (complete with shirts flying off). I watched a bunch of people wipe out on the muddy lawn. I saw women wear half shirts that had no business wearing such items. There were fights. I saw drunken dancing fools sloshing beer and losing most of it out of their cup. It was quite the wild night.

As for the show itself…another amazing concert. Saving Able opened and played the expected hits. Papa Roach came out and exploded as they always do. It took the Nickelback fans a couple of songs, but I think by the end of their set, Papa Roach made some new fans. I noticed that the drummer was slightly off during Getting Away With Murder, but he kept great time with the rest of the set, so perhaps it took him a little longer to get warmed up.

Hinder gave an excellent performance and by the time they got to Lips Of An Angel the entire audience was on their feet screaming along with Austin Winkler. Hinder is on the verge of launching into the next stratosphere and I have to believe that they will be headlining their own shows by their next release.

Nickelback was, of course, stunning and amazing (as they always are). The big surprise of the night came when Austin Winkler came out on the stage to sing Highway to Hell with the band. Then Jacoby Shaddix joined in (dressed in a Brian Johnson derby) and if that wasn’t enough, the very special surprise guest on guitar was none other than Ace Frehley. As a lifelong Kiss fan I went nuts. My wife and step-daughter looked at me and smiled, they know my love for Kiss and they were happy for me. Ace wailed on that guitar, nailed the solos, and looked extremely happy to be up on stage with the band. That was the performance of the night.

As I mentioned, expect a comprehensive review at some point, but as I’m on vacation this week, I wanted to check in with some random thoughts. Nickelback’s set list is below for anyone wanting to check it out:

Nickelback – Setlist – July 21, 2009
Something In Your Mouth
Because of You
Photograph
Figured You Out
Savin’ Me
Far Away
Highway to Hell (w/ Austin Winkler, Jacoby Shaddix, and ACE Frehley)
Gotta Be Somebody
If Everyone Cared
Friends In Low Places (A quick verse and chorus only)
If Today Was Your Last Day
Rockstar
Burn It To The Ground
How You Remind Me
Too Bad
Encore
Someday
Animals

Hinder - Take It To The Limit

Hinder has returned with Take It To The Limit, the follow up disc to their smash debut Extreme Behavior, and they are still taking it to the extreme. With even more raunchy themes of drinking too much, hanging out with dirty women, living life in excess, and even the occasional pang of heartache, Hinder’s second disc picks up right where their first one left off. Is Take It To The Limit worth the investment? Let’s spin the disc and find out.

Austin Winkler sounds incredible on this record, perhaps better than on their debut. I know that some listeners have issues with his raspy vocal style, but that’s what makes him unique. Winkler is an original brand and his vocals fit in well with the rest of the band’s musical style.

The twin guitar attack of Joe Garvey and Mark King is a grand assault on the senses. For the slower tunes, there is an acoustic/electric double attack, and for the heavier songs, it’s a blistering, all out domination of the ear drums. With this much talent in one lineup, it’s no wonder that this band is on top of the record charts, the airwaves, and landing spots on major tours.

Take It To The Limit opens with the lead single Use Me, which continues the theme of Extreme Behavior, raunchy women doing dirty deeds. Use Me is an in your face rocker that travels back to the older days of rock and roll (think mid-80s) and is just a hard rocking party tune.

Notable ballads (yes there are more than one) on this disc include Last Kiss Goodbye, Without You, and The Best Is Yet To Come.

Last Kiss Goodbye is another song of pain and anguish about being left behind by a woman who was having a long term affair. Without You picks up right where Lips of an Angel (from Extreme Behavior) left off musically. Lyrically, it could be the prequel to Lips of an Angel as the song touches on being better off without you and living life a little more every day when you’re (in this case a girl, of course) not around.

The Best Is Yet To Come is a song of remembrance and the stupid things we do as horny high schoolers. It reminds me a lot about my youthful days.

On the heavier side of the disc, there is the aforementioned Use Me, along with other notables Take It To The Limit, which guests none other than Mick Mars of Motley Crue on guitar, Up All Night, which is a party song about, what else, staying up all night and partying, and what I consider the strongest song on the disc, Lost In The Sun.

Lost In The Sun is a fast ripper that takes over and forces a foot tapping, rhythm feeling, sing along. Try all you want to escape it, you can’t. It’s a song with a slow build, a rousing opening, and a chorus that has you hooked after first listen.

Overall, Hinder has delivered the goods once again, and their second disc is actually better than their debut (which is a hard feat to accomplish). Take It To The Limit is definitely worth the money, as it will get several spins and an extended life in the car CD player, especially during those long summer drives to nowhere.

Ryo’s Rating: 8 (out of 10).

Hinder Haters

With the Motley Crue concert coming up in less than a month at MSG, I’ve been listening to a lot of Hinder, preparing myself for their slot at the Crue show. What I’m having trouble understanding is all of the Hinder haters out there. This band is quickly becoming one of the best sleaze rock bands since the 80s, and yet there are thousands of haters. And the haters are REAL haters. Some have even created anti-Hinder websites. What gives?

Is it fear? Is it a testament to our age? Are we afraid to let the young guns come in and overtake the music? Personally, I think Hinder is a damn good band that’s going to be headlining their own shows in another year. The fact that they are taking the stage after Theory of a Deadman during the current Crue tour only helps to solidify that statement.

But, man, the haters are out in full force. Reasons for hating the band vary from not liking Austin Winkler’s raspy vocal style to thinking that their lyrical content and musical sound is not original enough. Lyrically speaking, Hinder may not be writing timeless masterpieces, but their content is certainly creative enough, much more so than Poison’s was back in the day, and more so than some of the current Crue offerings.

Hinder is the hot new thing, and some people just have to hate the hot new thing in order to show their autonomy. I think that’s silly and immature, but hey, that’s just me. There is no rational reason to hate Hinder. Their music may not be for everyone, and their sleazy style may not appeal to all the music fans, but those fans that love glam, love hair metal, love the Hollywood scene, well, I don’t get their obsession with hating Hinder.

Music is a funny area of life. Everything about it is subjective, and people can dislike something just because it doesn’t appeal to them, with no rational explanation. That’s the beauty of music. I just think more people should give Hinder a serious listen before writing them off as something that’s not for them. They might be surprised to find out how great the band really is.

Comments are open. Feel free to post some.