Showing posts with label Vie's Verses. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Vie's Verses. Show all posts

Friday, September 16, 2011

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Vie's Verses Edition

As most of the regular readers know, I not only spend hours and hours of my life crafting some sensational literature about music for everyone to enjoy here at The Rock And Roll Guru, but I also write for another amazing website, Hard Rock Hideout. HRH is a great site dedicated to the harder side of rock and roll and I have been blessed with the opportunity to write a bi-weekly column titled, “Vie’s Verses.”

In this edition of the Roundup, I’ve decided to round up some recent Vie’s Verses that you may have otherwise missed. I hope you enjoy reading them as much as I enjoyed writing them.

Here’s some recent “Vie’s Verses” that rock. Click on the title of each to be taken directly to the post.

Is Guns N Roses Our Generation’s Led Zeppelin?
This piece stirred up quite the controversy. I was called insane, people thought I had to be joking, and one person even claimed that I “drew him offsides,” whatever that means. As much as they didn’t want to believe it, I was serious in my comparison. I think that GnR is this generations Led Zeppelin and the fact that they don’t have a large enough body of work to compare only helps solidify my point. This generation is a bunch of slackers!

A Tribute To The Late Jani Lane

I was very saddened by the news of Jani Lane’s passing. He was one of my boyhood heroes, and the tail end of his life was tragic. This was my soliloquy to him. It was a way for me to say thank you for all the joy his music brought to my life. May he rest in peace.

The Ten Most Uncelebrated Classic Kiss Songs
Every band with a large catalog has this problem. There are always fantastic songs that seemed to get ignored due to the vast body of music that the band has released. In this post, I tried to identify the 10 greatest Kiss songs that just don’t get the attention they deserve.

A Van Halen Fantasy
What would you do if Van Halen, Chickenfoot, and Hurtsmile all went on tour together with a huge VH all star jam at the end of the show? How much would you pay to see that concert? I know I’d be shelling out top dollar. I wish more bands would listen to cousin Ryo.

Every Album Challenge Update
Albums Listened To: 314
Albums Remaining: 1,739

For more news, reviews, tidbits, rants, raves, and other cool things, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday, February 25, 2011

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - The LOST Re-watch Edition

I’ve been re-watching the entire series of LOST this year. Every morning, while doing my daily workout, I watch an episode of the greatest show ever put on television (except for maybe The Twilight Zone). I am currently halfway through season two. It has been so much fun going back and watching the entire series again. It’s provided me new insight to the show and since I know what happens, I am able to watch the show from a whole new angle.

LOST was one of the coolest shows ever produced for television. I watched every episode of every season as they were aired and I spent hours and hours of my life on blogs and other LOST sites, speculating on what would happen and what the mysteries were all about. Now that the mysteries have been solved, I am starting to recognize how great the writing of the show was. Yes, there were some plot holes and trip ups along the way, but all long running TV shows have those. Overall, LOST was a well written, highly entertaining show, and I am just as hooked on the re-watch as I was on the original airing. As my buddy stone from Metal Odyssey would say, “Long Live LOST!”

Here’s what rocked this week:

Phish Will Tour This Summer
Earlier this week Phish announced tour dates for this summer. While the dates currently run through June 19th, I’ve a feeling that the band will be adding more in the near future.

Save The Dates For Dave Matthews Band
The Dave Matthews Band announced some festival dates on their website this week. No other information is currently available as to where the band will be performing, but we know that they will be headlining the festivals. The question that remains is will it be their own festival or one that already exists? Hopefully we will know the answer real soon.

Vie’s Verses – Heavy Metal Heals Us All
Over at Hard Rock Hideout, my latest column on the love of hard rock and heavy metal music has posted. While I love all types of music, hard rock was my first true love and will always hold a special place in my heart.

A Pantera Reunion?
Here’s an interesting article I found while surfing the web. Would you support a one-off reunion show of Pantera with Zak Wylde (or someone else) filling in on guitar? While I think this is certainly an interesting idea, I wonder if it would be a concert worth attending. Without Dimebag, it could be difficult. On the other hand, it may be a wonderful tribute and a way for the fans to say farewell.

For more rants, raves, reviews, concert news, and silly little things that are on my mind, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday, September 17, 2010

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - New Season of Hell's Kitchen Edition

I didn’t think it was possible. After getting a spring season of Hell’s Kitchen, followed by a summer season of Master Chef, I thought that Fox was done with Gordon Ramsay for a while. Perhaps there would be a new Kitchen Nightmares, but other than that, I figured there would be nothing until 2011.

Well, during this week’s finale of Master Chef, Fox aired commercials for a brand new season of Hell’s Kitchen that starts next Wednesday night (September 22). Cousin Ryo is one very excited individual. Anyone who reads The Guru with any regularity knows my love for Gordon Ramsay and Hell’s Kitchen. Knowing that I get a fall season of it (the first one in the shows history) has me giddy. If you want to see some seriously enjoyable entertainment, tune in to Fox Wednesday night at 8:00 pm Eastern.

Here’s what rocked this week:

From Good Homes Playing December Shows
The reunion continues, at least on the band’s own terms. One year after their first official reunion show, From Good Homes is back at it. This December they will be performing two nights at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair, New Jersey. These shows will take place on Friday, December 17th and Saturday, December 18th and are guaranteed to be amazing. Tickets are dirt cheap (at $28) and go on sale this Friday (as in today) at high noon. Visit www.tickets.com to get yours.

The String Quartet to Pop and Rock Wedding Essentials
There’s a new tribute album out, but not in the typical fashion that we’ve grown accustomed to. This time around, it’s a tribute album to wedding essentials. With songs such as Elton John’s Your Song, Dave Matthews Band’s Crash Into Me, and Journey’s Open Arms given the string make over, it will be interesting to hear this album in its entirety. Visit www.itunes.com for more information or to purchase this album.

Vie’s Verses
Another edition of Vie’s Verses has published over at Hard Rock Hideout. This time around I was asking which metal package tour would you like to see next year. You can check out the column by clicking on the link above.

Bruce Springsteen Debuts The Promise Documentary
And finally, there’s this little gem: Bruce Springsteen debuted the documentary that will be included in the Darkness On The Edge Of Town boxed set that is due out in November (2 months and counting). The documentary will also air on HBO on October 7th. Looks like I’ll have to find a friend who has HBO.

For more news, reviews, quips, and good times, you should follow me on twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday, September 3, 2010

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Labor Day Weekend Edition

Another summer comes to its unofficial end. Where did the summer go? I could have sworn it was Memorial Day only last weekend. Weren’t we just discussing the Rolling Stones release of the remastered Exile On Main Street and watching a video for Plundered My Soul? My, how the time flies!

For summer’s last gasp, Cathy and I will be attending a dinner party, and a barbecue. In addition to that, I will be seeing RUSH at the PNC Bank Arts Center tonight. I am looking forward to hearing Moving Pictures in its entirety along with some choice RUSH classics. It should be a fun-filled evening!

Here’s what rocked this week:

Bruce Springsteen To Release The Promise
As you already know if you read The Guru with any regularity, Bruce Springsteen is releasing a 6 disc box set for Darkness On The Edge Of Town. I personally cannot wait for this and I even have the money sitting aside in an envelope marked November 16th. November 17th may be a sick day at work for me.

Arcade Fire – Making Videos Cool Again
Talk about wild – Arcade Fire has unleashed an interactive video experience. In the video, the viewer can actually view their childhood home and write a note to their younger selves. As creepy as that is for some, it’s an interesting concept for me. What exactly would I write 12 year old Ryo? I’d probably say something like “Hey buddy, freaking grow a pair and ask Kristine out already!”

Vie’s Verses – What Album Should Kiss Perform Live?
That’s the question I pose over at Hard Rock Hideout with my latest installment of Vie’s Verses. With a lot of bands performing albums in their entirety, perhaps it’s time for Kiss to throw their hat into the ring and play one as well.

For more new release news, innovative tech talk, and nonsensical ramblings, you should follow me on Twitter! www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday, August 27, 2010

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - County Fair Edition

This weekend I am going to the County Fair. That’s right, corn dogs, ice cream, beef jerky, and all the farm animals you can imagine. My niece and nephew are involved in a farm auction, so it provides me with an opportunity to show support for them, and allows me to spend time with family (something I never get enough of). It’s also the second to last hurrah of the summer (with Labor Day BBQs wrapping things up next week).

I love going to the fair. Maybe it has something to do with reading Charlotte’s Web so much as a child, but the County Fair is really exciting for me. There’s so much to do, and it is so much fun. Add in the additional time with family, and it becomes the perfect weekend – as long as I don’t eat too much.

Here’s what rocked this week:

The Latest From Vie’s Verses
Over at Hard Rock Hideout, my bi-weekly column, Vie’s Verses was published. This one speculates on whether this is the end of Aerosmith. Things are looking bleak for the band overall. This really could be their last dance.

Midas – Rock The Highway Voting Continues
The top 20 finalists have been selected in the Midas/Spin magazine best road song contest. Click on the link to listen to the songs and vote for your favorite. One of these bands is going to win a nice prize and help their career massively. You’ve got until next Friday (September 3rd) to get on and vote. Go help a rising star!


Spider-Man The Musical Is Starting
It is finally seeing the light of day. With words and music by U2’s Bono and The Edge, the Spider-Man musical is finally going to begin. Warm up performances have already started and the play officially opens on November 14, 2010. For tickets visit U2’s website (click the above link) or Ticketmaster.com.

Win A Chance To Meet Kiss
You could win the opportunity to meet Kiss live in person, or Aerosmith, Lady GaGa, or Brad Paisley. Not sure why you would choose those last two over Kiss or Aerosmith, but hey, to each their own. Click on the link above for contest rules and your chance to enter.

For more contests, news, quirky sarcastic wit, and rocking good times, you should follow me on Twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie

Friday, July 16, 2010

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Dave Matthews Band Concert Edition

Tomorrow night, thanks to a friend who called me out of the blue with an extra ticket, I am going to see Dave Matthews Band live for the fourth time ever. This concert is at Citi Field, a stadium where the New York Mets play their home games. So, not only will I be able to witness DMB live in a stadium setting (something I have never done before), but I will also get to see Citi Field for the first time. What a nice bonus!

Since this is the last tour for DMB until 2012, they have been playing some rarities during their concerts that the fans have loved. I am hopeful to hear some rarities tomorrow night. I would also like to hear some deep classics that I’ve never heard live. No matter what they play though, I am going to have an amazing time. A hot, Saturday night in July, seeing DMB live in New York City – it’s just incredible! Of course, I will have a full review in the days following the concert.

And while I was singing #41 in anticipation of the show, here’s what rocked this week:

Vie’s Verses
Another edition of Vie’s Verses has posted over at Hard Rock Hideout. This time around, I defend Iron Maiden’s fantastic setilst for their current tour. And so far, it appears that a lot of fans agree with me.

Continuing On The Iron Maiden Theme
Janick Gers addresses retirement rumors. All I can say is Maiden better not retire!

Bon-Jovi Live At Madison Square Garden
Here’s a well written review of Bon-Jovi’s latest DVD, Live At Madison Square Garden. After reading this review, I think I am going to have to pick this up. The concert looks amazing and I haven’t seen Bon Jovi live since the Have A Nice Day tour. This may serve as a good fill in until I can see them live again.

Nickelback Tickets On Sale Tomorrow
And finally, Nickelback/Buckcherry/Three Days Grace tickets go on sale to the general public tomorrow for most (if not all)) tour dates. Prices range between $50 - $90. If you’ve got the money, this could be one hell of a show!

Friday, July 9, 2010

Friday's Rockin' Roundup - Iron Maiden Concert Edition

This Sunday is going to be an excellent day for your cousin Ryo. I am going to be seeing Iron Maiden live for the fourth time in my life. The setlist for this current tour has been taking a lot of punishment from the US fans, but I think it’s exceptional. I love the fact that Maiden is mixing it up and not playing the same nostalgia songs every tour. That’s the beauty of Iron Maiden, they are always willing to try something different. I know that I will be singing along with every song they play, and when they do get to the classics, it will just make them that much more exciting. Iron Maiden is an incredible live act, and this concert is going to be amazing. Expect a full review of the entire show in the upcoming weeks.

Now, here’s what rocked this week:

Nickelback To Tour With Buckcherry and Three Days Grace
Wow! Nickelback, Buckcherry, and Three Days Grace. I am SO there!

Damn the Torpedoes or Full Moon Fever?
Over at 3minutes, 49 seconds, Paul has started a new column entitled rock solid. This column attempts to identify those masterpiece records. His first foray into this arena finds him debating between Damn The Torpedoes or Full Moon Fever. Personally, I think that’s unfair. Damn The Torpedoes is a Heartbreaker’s record, while Full Moon Fever is a Petty solo record. Shouldn’t they both qualify as the greatest work by those artists?

Review – Faith No More In Concert
Blogs N Roses has posted a review of Faith No More live in Philly from July 3rd. Interesting setlist and to me, quite unexpected. Still, if the band were to come a little closer to home, I’d want to check them out.

An Interview With Rudolph Schenker
Deb Rao over at Hard Rock Haven had a chance to sit down and talk with the famed Scorpions guitarist Rudolph Schenker. Note Rudolph’s quote of “of course we’ll play…Still Loving You”. What? I didn’t get that song!

Mick Jagger Reportedly Upset About Keith Richards’ Biography
Are you kidding me? Come on, Mick, what’s there to be upset about? All of your drug use and woman abusing has already been captured in Stephen Davis’ Old Gods Almost Dead. So why do you care if Keith brings it up again? Mick always has been the priss of the band. Personally, I can’t wait for Richards’ biography. I’ve got a space on my bookshelf all carved out for October!

And Finally…
I am VERY proud to announce the launch of my own bi-weekly column, Vie’s Verses. The folks at Hard Rock Hideout were gracious enough to provide me the opportunity to write a bi-weekly column and I am so excited about it. My first post went up last week, discussing the M3 festival and Vince Neil. Check it out by clicking on the link above.

For more news, reviews, and concert revelations, and torpedoes, you should follow me on Twitter. www.twitter.com/ryovie