It’s Memorial Day here in the USA. The unofficial start of summer, regardless of what the calendar says. And of course the holiday is punctuated by a long weekend. Backyard barbecues, parades, and spending time with friends and family are all highlights of a good Memorial Day weekend. I’ve got all three jamming my schedule this weekend, with 2 BBQs on Saturday, a trip to the shore with old friends on Sunday, and a parade and another BBQ on Monday. No wonder I’m so stressed lately. Even my downtime is a whirlwind of activity!
Memorial Day is more than just beer, beaches, and babes in bikinis, it’s also a time to reflect. The holiday is a way to remind us of all the soldiers (past and present) that fought for our freedoms. Take a moment this weekend to remember them in some small way. Thank a veteran. Shake hands with a member of the armed forces. Say thank you to a member of the military, past or present. They fought for us, so that we would not have to. To me, that’s an invaluable debt that can never be repaid.
Here’s what rocked this week:
KISS TOURING THE US THIS SUMMER
We kick things off with the hottest band in the land making an announcement that they will be on tour in the USA this summer. The tour kicks off on July 23rd and ends on September 24th. Word over the internet is that the lords of rock will be playing the same songs that they just performed on their European tour. That means Crazy, Crazy Nights, I’m An Animal, and Say Yeah will all be played. That will make up for me not seeing those songs last October. I am so in for this show. Pre-sale tickets start June 4th. Prices are still TBD.
RUSHCON CELEBRATING 10 YEARS
I didn’t even know that there was a RUSH con. I know all about the KISS cons (and I’ve been to several of them), but I had no clue on the RUSH con. I’ll bet this will be a fun gathering, especially since it’s planned to coincide with a live RUSH date in each city. Interesting.
REMEMBERING JAY BENNETT
The Jay Bennett Foundation launched this week, on the one year anniversary of Jay’s untimely passing. Also released is the last album that he was working on at the time of his death. Kicking At The Perfumed Air is available at no cost through the foundation. Donations are recommended, but not required. It’s a nice way to remember such an excellent musician.
A RETROSPECTIVE LOOK AT BILLY JOEL’S THE STRANGER
Over at 3 Minutes, 49 Seconds, I stumbled across a damn good review of The Stranger, Billy Joel’s masterpieces album. I’ve always thought The Stranger was one of those extremely rare perfect albums. This review helped me to realize that I am correct in my thinking.
PAPA ROACH TALKS NEW ALBUM
Papa Roach is releasing a new album this summer. Pulling a Poison (and Kiss waaaaaaay before that), Papa Roach’s new album will be part live, part studio. As much as I love Papa Roach, they make it sound like they were the first band to ever offer new songs on a live album. I can’t wait to hear the album regardless. Look for it in stores this August.
For more rock, roll, tour dates, updates, shout outs, record reviews, and general celebrations, you should follow me on Twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie
Showing posts with label Papa Roach. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Papa Roach. Show all posts
Friday, May 28, 2010
Monday, March 22, 2010
The Summer Tours 2010
Ahhhh! Spring has finally (officially) arrived and everyone is gearing up for the most wonderful time of the year. No, not baseball season (although that is close), but the spring/summer concert season. Yes, another year of concerts is upon us and there are some great bands going out on tour for 2010.
Your cousin Ryo has the scoop on the confirmed tours, some rumored tours, and of course the tour dates and prices for all. Please note, the ticket prices are all before fees. Read on, music lovers, read on.
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
Supporting Acts: Multiple, including My Morning Jacket, Buddy Guy, and Crosby, Stills and Nash
Tour Page: http://www.tompetty.com/tour
Ticket Prices: $50 - $125
Going out on tour in support of their brand new album, Mojo, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers will be on the road for most of the summer. The tour kicks off May 6th in North Carolina and is currently scheduled to end August 27th in Saratoga Springs, New York. The prices are a little higher than I would have expected, but $50 for the upper level seats isn’t too bad, especially when you see some of the support acts that are touring with Petty. With a new album to perform, it remains to be seen how many classic Petty tunes will get their time in the spotlight, but if you’ve never seen Petty live before, then this is a great time to start.
Iron Maiden
Supporting Act: Dream Theater
Tour Page: http://www.ironmaiden.com/index.php?categoryid=15
Ticket Prices: $26.50 - $125
The announcement of a brand new album (The Final Frontier) came last week coupled with announcing a North American tour this summer. Both announcements made cousin Ryo extremely giddy. I love Iron Maiden and their concert performances are legendary. While it’s going to be difficult to top their Somewhere Back In Time tour, I’m looking forward to new songs and I’m curious what the setlist will be. No matter what, this is going to be one of the must see concerts of the summer. Up the Irons!
Dave Matthews Band
Supporting Act: Multiple, including Yonder Mountain String Band, Zac Brown Band, and Govt Mule
Tour Page: http://www.davematthewsband.com/#/tour
Ticket Prices: $40 - $90
Launching on May 28th in Connecticut and wrapping on September 15th in Minnesota, Dave Matthews Band is hitting the road again for their annual summer tour. While this is always a great show, what concerns me most this year are the ticket prices. Usually the tickets are in the somewhat affordable range, but this year the prices seem to have gone up dramatically. Tickets start in the $40 range and go up to $100 depending on location. The average price is $75. I can’t recall paying that much to see the band in the past. It’s frustrating, because this is the year that I wanted to see them at several locations.
Nickelback
Supporting Act: Breaking Benjamin, Sick Puppies
Tour Page: http://www.nickelback.com/index2.html
Ticket Prices: $43 – 83
Still touring behind the incredible Dark Horse, Nickelback will be on the road this spring, hitting many of the spots that they missed over the past year. I’ve seen Nickleback in concert three times and each time was an incredible experience. They really know how to interact with their fans and provide an evening of excellent entertainment. A Nickelback concert is guaranteed fun and if you have the chance to catch them this spring, you really should.
U2
Supporting Act: Multiple, including Lenny Kravits, The Fray, and a lot of TBD
Tour Page: http://www.u2.com/tour/index
Ticket Prices: $30 - $250
U2 is still out in support of their latest disc No Line On The Horizon. Playing in stadiums with a unique 360 stage setting, this is one of their most ambitious tours yet. U2 have given many memorable concerts and if you have never seen them in concert, it’s worth the price. However, it’s hard to justify paying $250 to see anyone and that includes U2. Personally, I am going to miss this tour, because the cheaper tickets sold in a matter of seconds, and all that are left (in my area) are the $95 and above. That’s just too much money for a band that I have seen several times.
Bon Jovi
Supporting Act: TBD
Tour Page: http://www.bonjovi.com/tour
Ticket Prices: $36.50 - $150
Another band that used to not charge a lot for their concerts but lately have jacked up the ticket prices is Bon Jovi. I love this band (growing up in New Jersey, you almost have to be a fan), but I am not willing to shell out the kind of money that they are asking. Once again, the cheaper tickets were gone in a heartbeat and all that were left were the 3 digit priced tickets. The new Bon Jovi album is excellent, and I am sure the new songs sound great live, but I’ve heard there are no deep cuts on this tour, and since I’ve seen these guys live more than once, I can miss out on this one.
Papa Roach
Supporting Act: TBD
Tour Page: http://www.paparoach.com/events
Ticket Prices: $25
Papa Roach is a great live band with affordable ticket prices. What more needs to be said? These guys rock like many bands wish they could. Every time I’ve seen Papa Roach, it’s been a concert experience. If they are coming to your town, go see them.
The Eagles
Supporting Act: The Dixie Chicks, Keith Urban
Tour Page: http://www.eaglesband.com/tour.php
Ticket Prices: $55 - $180
Still out in support of Long Road Out Of Eden The Eagles will be bringing two big acts with them, The Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban. Seeing as I am not a fan of either of those bands, nor am I fan of their new album, I will be missing this concert. However, The Eagles are one of those legendary bands and the one time I saw them in concert, it was amazing. If you like the new album and/or the supporting acts, you should think about attending this show.
The Scorpions
Supporting Act: TBD
Tour Page: http://www.the-scorpions.com/english
Ticket Prices: TBD
Touring in support of a new album which is supposed to be their last, The Scorpions are heading out on their farewell tour. While I will be seeing them at M3 this year, the Scorpions will be touring everywhere. As of this writing, tour details are still being worked out, so there is no information on the ticket prices or the support acts yet. However, keep checking their webpage, as information is going to be up soon.
Cinderella
Supporting Act: TBD
Tour Page: Coming Soon
Ticket Prices: TBD
According to their webpage, Cinderella will be touring in 2010. They are already scheduled to appear at the M3 Festival in Columbia, Maryland. An announcement regarding other tour dates is expected in the coming weeks. I’m hopeful that they will team up with other great metal acts of the 80s (Winger, Trixter, or Poison would be nice), but details remain to be seen.
And there you have it. The hot, anticipated tours for this coming summer. Are you going to see any of them? Looking forward to certain ones? Drop a line and let the Guru know.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Labels: Tickets, ticket prices, concerts, Iron Maiden, The Eagles, Cinderella, The Scorpions, Tom Petty, Dave Matthews Band, Papa Roach, U2, Nickelback, Bon Jovi
Your cousin Ryo has the scoop on the confirmed tours, some rumored tours, and of course the tour dates and prices for all. Please note, the ticket prices are all before fees. Read on, music lovers, read on.
Tom Petty And The Heartbreakers
Supporting Acts: Multiple, including My Morning Jacket, Buddy Guy, and Crosby, Stills and Nash
Tour Page: http://www.tompetty.com/tour
Ticket Prices: $50 - $125
Going out on tour in support of their brand new album, Mojo, Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers will be on the road for most of the summer. The tour kicks off May 6th in North Carolina and is currently scheduled to end August 27th in Saratoga Springs, New York. The prices are a little higher than I would have expected, but $50 for the upper level seats isn’t too bad, especially when you see some of the support acts that are touring with Petty. With a new album to perform, it remains to be seen how many classic Petty tunes will get their time in the spotlight, but if you’ve never seen Petty live before, then this is a great time to start.
Iron Maiden
Supporting Act: Dream Theater
Tour Page: http://www.ironmaiden.com/index.php?categoryid=15
Ticket Prices: $26.50 - $125
The announcement of a brand new album (The Final Frontier) came last week coupled with announcing a North American tour this summer. Both announcements made cousin Ryo extremely giddy. I love Iron Maiden and their concert performances are legendary. While it’s going to be difficult to top their Somewhere Back In Time tour, I’m looking forward to new songs and I’m curious what the setlist will be. No matter what, this is going to be one of the must see concerts of the summer. Up the Irons!
Dave Matthews Band
Supporting Act: Multiple, including Yonder Mountain String Band, Zac Brown Band, and Govt Mule
Tour Page: http://www.davematthewsband.com/#/tour
Ticket Prices: $40 - $90
Launching on May 28th in Connecticut and wrapping on September 15th in Minnesota, Dave Matthews Band is hitting the road again for their annual summer tour. While this is always a great show, what concerns me most this year are the ticket prices. Usually the tickets are in the somewhat affordable range, but this year the prices seem to have gone up dramatically. Tickets start in the $40 range and go up to $100 depending on location. The average price is $75. I can’t recall paying that much to see the band in the past. It’s frustrating, because this is the year that I wanted to see them at several locations.
Nickelback
Supporting Act: Breaking Benjamin, Sick Puppies
Tour Page: http://www.nickelback.com/index2.html
Ticket Prices: $43 – 83
Still touring behind the incredible Dark Horse, Nickelback will be on the road this spring, hitting many of the spots that they missed over the past year. I’ve seen Nickleback in concert three times and each time was an incredible experience. They really know how to interact with their fans and provide an evening of excellent entertainment. A Nickelback concert is guaranteed fun and if you have the chance to catch them this spring, you really should.
U2
Supporting Act: Multiple, including Lenny Kravits, The Fray, and a lot of TBD
Tour Page: http://www.u2.com/tour/index
Ticket Prices: $30 - $250
U2 is still out in support of their latest disc No Line On The Horizon. Playing in stadiums with a unique 360 stage setting, this is one of their most ambitious tours yet. U2 have given many memorable concerts and if you have never seen them in concert, it’s worth the price. However, it’s hard to justify paying $250 to see anyone and that includes U2. Personally, I am going to miss this tour, because the cheaper tickets sold in a matter of seconds, and all that are left (in my area) are the $95 and above. That’s just too much money for a band that I have seen several times.
Bon Jovi
Supporting Act: TBD
Tour Page: http://www.bonjovi.com/tour
Ticket Prices: $36.50 - $150
Another band that used to not charge a lot for their concerts but lately have jacked up the ticket prices is Bon Jovi. I love this band (growing up in New Jersey, you almost have to be a fan), but I am not willing to shell out the kind of money that they are asking. Once again, the cheaper tickets were gone in a heartbeat and all that were left were the 3 digit priced tickets. The new Bon Jovi album is excellent, and I am sure the new songs sound great live, but I’ve heard there are no deep cuts on this tour, and since I’ve seen these guys live more than once, I can miss out on this one.
Papa Roach
Supporting Act: TBD
Tour Page: http://www.paparoach.com/events
Ticket Prices: $25
Papa Roach is a great live band with affordable ticket prices. What more needs to be said? These guys rock like many bands wish they could. Every time I’ve seen Papa Roach, it’s been a concert experience. If they are coming to your town, go see them.
The Eagles
Supporting Act: The Dixie Chicks, Keith Urban
Tour Page: http://www.eaglesband.com/tour.php
Ticket Prices: $55 - $180
Still out in support of Long Road Out Of Eden The Eagles will be bringing two big acts with them, The Dixie Chicks and Keith Urban. Seeing as I am not a fan of either of those bands, nor am I fan of their new album, I will be missing this concert. However, The Eagles are one of those legendary bands and the one time I saw them in concert, it was amazing. If you like the new album and/or the supporting acts, you should think about attending this show.
The Scorpions
Supporting Act: TBD
Tour Page: http://www.the-scorpions.com/english
Ticket Prices: TBD
Touring in support of a new album which is supposed to be their last, The Scorpions are heading out on their farewell tour. While I will be seeing them at M3 this year, the Scorpions will be touring everywhere. As of this writing, tour details are still being worked out, so there is no information on the ticket prices or the support acts yet. However, keep checking their webpage, as information is going to be up soon.
Cinderella
Supporting Act: TBD
Tour Page: Coming Soon
Ticket Prices: TBD
According to their webpage, Cinderella will be touring in 2010. They are already scheduled to appear at the M3 Festival in Columbia, Maryland. An announcement regarding other tour dates is expected in the coming weeks. I’m hopeful that they will team up with other great metal acts of the 80s (Winger, Trixter, or Poison would be nice), but details remain to be seen.
And there you have it. The hot, anticipated tours for this coming summer. Are you going to see any of them? Looking forward to certain ones? Drop a line and let the Guru know.
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Labels: Tickets, ticket prices, concerts, Iron Maiden, The Eagles, Cinderella, The Scorpions, Tom Petty, Dave Matthews Band, Papa Roach, U2, Nickelback, Bon Jovi
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
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 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.
Wednesday, November 18, 2009
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.
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, November 6, 2009
Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Veteran's Day Edition
This Wednesday, November 11, is Veteran’s Day here in the US. Every year, I like to take a moment to reflect on our veterans and pay them the proper respect they deserve. Anyone who has read this blog with any regularity knows how I support those that fight to defend our freedoms. Whatever your stance is on war, you still have to give your thoughts and prayers to the soldiers that are fighting them.
This Veteran’s Day, take a minute to say thank you to a local vet. Buy him/her a beer. Shake their hand. Say thanks for all you do/did. If they want to share their war stories, take five minutes to listen to one (they are usually very entertaining). If nothing else, just take a moment to remember our vets and marvel at all they have done for this country, both past and present.
Here’s what rock this week:
U2 Sets Concert Attendance Record
I can’t even fathom what it would be like to play in front of more than 97,000 fans. Imagine the traffic getting out of that concert!
Papa Roach Adds More Fall Dates
Papa Roach are extending their current tour with Jet, and will be doing some headlining dates with Shinedown. Papa Roach and Shinedown? Now that’s a great double bill. Unfortunately, no shows near me…yet. I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears open for updates.
Pearl Jam’s Last Night At The Spectrum
One fan’s detailed review of the amazing show that closed the spectrum. If you like my concert reviews, you are going to enjoy reading this.
Springsteen To Perform Both The Wild… And The River At MSG
2 words. Holy Crap!
This Veteran’s Day, take a minute to say thank you to a local vet. Buy him/her a beer. Shake their hand. Say thanks for all you do/did. If they want to share their war stories, take five minutes to listen to one (they are usually very entertaining). If nothing else, just take a moment to remember our vets and marvel at all they have done for this country, both past and present.
Here’s what rock this week:
U2 Sets Concert Attendance Record
I can’t even fathom what it would be like to play in front of more than 97,000 fans. Imagine the traffic getting out of that concert!
Papa Roach Adds More Fall Dates
Papa Roach are extending their current tour with Jet, and will be doing some headlining dates with Shinedown. Papa Roach and Shinedown? Now that’s a great double bill. Unfortunately, no shows near me…yet. I’ll be keeping my eyes and ears open for updates.
Pearl Jam’s Last Night At The Spectrum
One fan’s detailed review of the amazing show that closed the spectrum. If you like my concert reviews, you are going to enjoy reading this.
Springsteen To Perform Both The Wild… And The River At MSG
2 words. Holy Crap!
Monday, October 19, 2009
Papa Roach and Jet: Co-Headlining Tour Dates
Papa Roach and Jet have announced a co-headlining tour that will kick off on October 25th in Amarillo, TX. Not sure if they intend to add more dates or not. Tickets are going for around $40. Most tickets are available now.
The Guru can highly recommend Papa Roach, they are amazing in concert. I’ve never seen Jet, but I liked their first CD a lot. Their new single, She’s A Genius is a decent song too. I wonder who is closing the show?
The Guru can highly recommend Papa Roach, they are amazing in concert. I’ve never seen Jet, but I liked their first CD a lot. Their new single, She’s A Genius is a decent song too. I wonder who is closing the show?
TOUR DATES:
10/25 Amarillo, TX Aztec Music Hall
10/26 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
10/28 Dubuque, IA Five Flags Center
10/29 Flint, MI The Machine Shop
10/30 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room at the Murat Centre
11/1 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
11/2 Sault Ste Marie, MI Dream Makers Theater
11/4 Des Moines, IA Val Air Ballroom
11/5 St. Paul, MN Roy Wilkins Auditorium
11/7 Youngstown, OH Wedgewood Entertainment Center
11/9 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live!
11/11 Philadelphia, PA The Electric Factory
11/12 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
11/14 Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Park
11/23 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
10/25 Amarillo, TX Aztec Music Hall
10/26 Denver, CO Ogden Theatre
10/28 Dubuque, IA Five Flags Center
10/29 Flint, MI The Machine Shop
10/30 Indianapolis, IN Egyptian Room at the Murat Centre
11/1 Detroit, MI The Fillmore
11/2 Sault Ste Marie, MI Dream Makers Theater
11/4 Des Moines, IA Val Air Ballroom
11/5 St. Paul, MN Roy Wilkins Auditorium
11/7 Youngstown, OH Wedgewood Entertainment Center
11/9 Baltimore, MD Rams Head Live!
11/11 Philadelphia, PA The Electric Factory
11/12 New York, NY Nokia Theatre
11/14 Jacksonville, FL Metropolitan Park
11/23 Los Angeles, CA Club Nokia
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Saturday, August 8, 2009
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
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
Wednesday, July 22, 2009
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
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
Saturday, March 14, 2009
CrueFest Part Three - August 23, 2008
Last week I reviewed Sixx AMs, performance and the antics of the tattoo woman. This week I’ll cover Papa Roach’s portion of the show.
Papa Roach
Perhaps the best part of the evening came when Papa Roach took to the stage. Having never seen them in concert, I wasn’t sure what to expect. At that time, I was becoming a big fan, having been won over by The Paramour Sessions, after basically forgetting about the band after their debut.
A word about Metal Eddie. When attending a concert with this guy, I never know what to expect. He is a true metal fan, excited like a kid in a candy store, for every metal show we attend. While I admire his passion and enthusiasm, I am a little more conservative and I’m also claustrophobic. So, when Metal Eddie wanted to run down into the pit of people swarming near the front rows, I had to politely decline and stay in my seat. There were less people around me, which meant more headbanging room.
Papa Roach stormed the stage with the energy of a category 5 hurricane. Jacoby Shaddix wasted no time letting the crowd know that they were here and the crowd had no problems confessing their love for him and his band. At this point in the afternoon, the ampitheater was filled to capacity and the lawn was almost completely full. Papa Roach was an act the people wanted to see.
They opened with …To Be Loved and did an incredible version of it live. The guitar and drums were crisp and clear, and Jacoby’s voice was album perfect. He whipped the already lively crowd into a frenzied state. Fists were pumping, girls were screaming, guys were roaring – Papa Roach was pulling out all of the stops.
A lot of songs from The Paramour Sessions were played, which is understandable as it is not only their latest album, but also their best. Classic tracks included She Loves Me Not, Dead Cell, and Between Angels and Insects.
During Time Is Running Out¸ I witnessed a feat I had not experienced since Mark Slaughter tried it during the inaugural Poison hair metal festival. Jacoby Shaddix jumped right down into the crowd with no qualms at all. While still singing the song, he walked through the audience, shaking hands, hugging and kissing girls, and high-fiving everyone around. He did all this without ever missing a note! A crowd of people followed him through the aisles and he just kept singing his ass off, letting you know that he was here to entertain you. It was an amazing moment and one that sealed the deal on my love for Papa Roach.
The highlight of their set was Getting Away With Murder from the album of the same name. The live version was killer and performed with such an emotional rage that you just felt the words and music as it poured out of the band. “I feel irrational, so confrontational, to tell the truth I am, GETTING AWAY WITH MUDER!”
Jacoby was a madman. He ran that theater and orchestrated the crowd sing along, encouraging the roars and screams of positive feedback. “This is a rock show! Get off your ass and stand up! Let me see you jump! Jump! Get out of your seat!” He encouraged us all to stand up, rock out, and roll on.
After closing the set with Last Resort, Jacoby started a crowd chant of “Papa Roach! Papa Roach! Papa Roach!” We chanted and chanted. We were actually screaming for an encore, but to no avail, that was their last song and there would be no return.
Papa Roach won me over from a casual fan to a devoted fan with that performance. Any band that gives their all, and shows the dedication and devotion that they did, deserves to have my die-hard fanship. And when the next tour comes around, I hope to see Papa Roach headlining a festival of their own. They could definitely pull it off.
Next Week: Buckcherry takes the stage.
Monday, January 26, 2009
New Year, New Releases
With almost one month gone in the New Year, it is well known that there will be plenty of new music out in the coming months.
Listed below are the albums that your cousin Ryo is eager to hear and get his hands on this year. The projected release date is also included. Be sure to mark your calendars, but remember all release dates are subject to change at the discretion of the record company.
Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band – Working On A Dream – January 27th
Wasting no time after the release and tour of Magic, Springsteen and company will be putting out a new disc this week. With the passing of Danny Federici last year, I’m sure that the music will have a different flavor than the previous album. It’s been rumored that at least one song will contain Danny’s work, and the opening track for the album clocks in at almost 8 and a half minutes. I’ve always enjoyed Springsteen’s epic songs, and this one seems to be a pleaser as well.
U2 – No Line On The Horizon – March 3rd
U2 has always been one of my favorite bands, and coming off the very strong How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, along with their decision to not release the album until they felt it was their best, well, the bar is set real high. I think that U2 will deliver, but it’s going to be hard to top their last album. Bono and the boys are coming off one of the best stretches of their careers, so perhaps that positive momentum followed them into the studio. We’ll find out this March.
Papa Roach – Metamorphosis – March 24th
Papa Roach’s last album was hands down their best, possibly one of the best rock records released over the past 5 years. It is going to be real hard to beat The Paramour Sessions but if Papa Roach can bring the energy of their live performances into the studio, then there will be nothing to worry about. With the energy they showed at Cruefest, and now being on the road with Buckcherry, Papa Roach is on the cusp of taking over the rock world. In another year or so, this group should be headlining their own festivals. Perhaps that will start with the release of their new disc. We’ll find out in the spring.
Dave Matthews Band – Untitled Release – April 14th
Dave Matthews Band is another fantastic band that hasn’t released a new record in years. This is the long awaited follow up to Stand which was delayed several times over the past year. With the sad and unexpected passing of Leroi Moore, it will be interesting to see who takes over the saxophone duties on a permanent basis, and how many of the tracks will contain Leroi’s saxophone from previously recorded sessions.
Aerosmith – No Title Yet – No Release Date Yet
Aerosmith was supposed to release a new disc in 2008, but it was delayed and ultimately the band never went back into the studio to finish it. Having not released an album of all original material since 2001’s Just Push Play it’s been a long time coming for the bad boys from Boston. As the band members approach the 60 years of age mark, it will be interesting to see what they focus their writing on. Is it still about partying, women, and fun, or will it morph into something else? Here’s hoping that we will find out this year.
These are the big albums that your cousin Ryo is anxiously awaiting this year. How about you? What discs can you not wait to spin in your CD player or load onto your IPOD?
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
Listed below are the albums that your cousin Ryo is eager to hear and get his hands on this year. The projected release date is also included. Be sure to mark your calendars, but remember all release dates are subject to change at the discretion of the record company.
Bruce Springsteen and the E-Street Band – Working On A Dream – January 27th
Wasting no time after the release and tour of Magic, Springsteen and company will be putting out a new disc this week. With the passing of Danny Federici last year, I’m sure that the music will have a different flavor than the previous album. It’s been rumored that at least one song will contain Danny’s work, and the opening track for the album clocks in at almost 8 and a half minutes. I’ve always enjoyed Springsteen’s epic songs, and this one seems to be a pleaser as well.
U2 – No Line On The Horizon – March 3rd
U2 has always been one of my favorite bands, and coming off the very strong How To Dismantle An Atomic Bomb, along with their decision to not release the album until they felt it was their best, well, the bar is set real high. I think that U2 will deliver, but it’s going to be hard to top their last album. Bono and the boys are coming off one of the best stretches of their careers, so perhaps that positive momentum followed them into the studio. We’ll find out this March.
Papa Roach – Metamorphosis – March 24th
Papa Roach’s last album was hands down their best, possibly one of the best rock records released over the past 5 years. It is going to be real hard to beat The Paramour Sessions but if Papa Roach can bring the energy of their live performances into the studio, then there will be nothing to worry about. With the energy they showed at Cruefest, and now being on the road with Buckcherry, Papa Roach is on the cusp of taking over the rock world. In another year or so, this group should be headlining their own festivals. Perhaps that will start with the release of their new disc. We’ll find out in the spring.
Dave Matthews Band – Untitled Release – April 14th
Dave Matthews Band is another fantastic band that hasn’t released a new record in years. This is the long awaited follow up to Stand which was delayed several times over the past year. With the sad and unexpected passing of Leroi Moore, it will be interesting to see who takes over the saxophone duties on a permanent basis, and how many of the tracks will contain Leroi’s saxophone from previously recorded sessions.
Aerosmith – No Title Yet – No Release Date Yet
Aerosmith was supposed to release a new disc in 2008, but it was delayed and ultimately the band never went back into the studio to finish it. Having not released an album of all original material since 2001’s Just Push Play it’s been a long time coming for the bad boys from Boston. As the band members approach the 60 years of age mark, it will be interesting to see what they focus their writing on. Is it still about partying, women, and fun, or will it morph into something else? Here’s hoping that we will find out this year.
These are the big albums that your cousin Ryo is anxiously awaiting this year. How about you? What discs can you not wait to spin in your CD player or load onto your IPOD?
Comments are open. Feel free to post some.
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