Friday, December 29. 2006
Jason McMaster of Broken Teeth
photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer |
Broken Teeth
Hometown: Austin, Tx.
http://www.brokenteeth.com/
The Broken Teeth Concert Photos
Friday, December 15th, 2006
Also: New Disaster, L.A. Guns
The Red Eyed Fly (Austin, Texas)
No one can accuse Austin's Jason McMaster of resting on his laurels. The local hair metal hero has been very busy since the "official" end of Dangerous Toys in 1996. Aside from numerous side gigs, and various reunion shows with Watchtower and Dangerous Toys, Jason is in two bands that have been perfecting their chops around town in a number of the louder faster harder clubs. I caught his show with the band Broken Teeth recently when they opened for the L.A.Guns at the Red Eyed Fly.
Loud, fast, hard, yes yes all those adjectives apply, but what I saw was also a far more professional show than most of the other local bands I've seen around town. Performing onstage since 1986, Jason has assembled a band of similar pros, and it's apparent almost from minute one. Working the stage and the audience with the talent and experience of a world class touring band, you have to wonder what could have been had not grunge driven a stake through the heart of the metal movement. If it weren't for grunge, either of Jason's bands would probably be headlining at some huge arena somewhere. As it is, they are easily one of Austin's best bands, and that's a pretty big accomplishment in a town that bills itself as the "Live Music Capitol of the World."
Jason McMaster and Broken Teeth
photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer |
It had probably been ten years or more since my last Toys show, but I was half expecting this lanky, wiry kid in makeup and hairspray to show up to sing. Needless to say, Jason has pretty much grown up, I didn't see much hairspray in use, and the makeup has been replaced by tats. I have kind of kept a distant eye on Jason's career over the years. I first saw him with Watchtower in the 80s when it was still pretty much a high school band. They actually played at several parties I went to, and Jason had far fewer tattoos back then. Then I saw him break out with the band Dangerous Toys, practically living at Austin's Back Room and ruling the local metal scene until they broke nationally. If you get the chance, Broken Teeth is definitely worth seeing.
New Disaster at the Red Eyed Fly
photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer |
Austin band New Disaster opened the show and they seem to be going places. They appear to have attracted their own core following, which was very much in evidence for their set. They too were loud and fast, with an awesome guitarist, Abel Idle. They have some interesting friends too; Austin's own famous music journalist Metal Dave was there blessing Abel's guitar, as was Insite Magazine's photographer Jay West. Their set was smoking and it won't be long before they attract some major label attention. They sure got mine.
I wish I could have stuck around for the L.A. Guns set, but by the time they hit the stage I was already three songs into the Skunks show at the Continental Club. I'll have to catch the Guns next time.
 It is now Friday December 29 and it is time to play WTF Friday, the game where you tell us the first 10 songs that come up on your music player when you hit the Random or Shuffle button. At stake is a classic kingsnake.com T-shirt and the a chance to win the monthly grand prize, a black 30Gb video iPod. Also we welcome Metal Blade Records as a contest sponsor this month, so everyone that wins a shirt or iPod will also get a copy of Metal Blade's 2006 Summer Sampler with 18 bands including Cannibal Corpse, Unearth and more!
December will be the last month we run the iPod contest. We have one iPod left, and Microsoft never got back to us when we asked them if they wanted to give away some of their Zune players. It's been fun, and we will find some other contest to play with.
Here is my list... and remember, this is Christie, NOT Jeff, today!
1. In My Arms - Erasure
2. Suzanne - Peter Gabriel
3. Long-Forgotten Fairytale - The Magnetic Fields
4. Seen And Not Seen - Talking Heads
5. When Love Comes To Town - U2
6. Should I Stay or Should I Go - The Clash
7. To the One I Love - R.E.M.
8. You Look So Fine - Garbage
9. Malaria - Shriekback
10. The Price I Pay - Billy Bragg
Monday, December 25. 2006
James Brown May 10, 2006 at Stubb's Bar-B-Q
photo courtesy of gary miller |
James Joseph Brown, Jr.
(May 3, 1933 – December 25, 2006)
Biography
Concert Review
Web Site
The godfather is dead.
James Brown, "Godfather of Soul," "Mr. Dynamite," and "the Hardest-Working Man in Show Business," died early Monday while being treated for pneumonia in Atlanta. One of the most influential performers of the second half of the 20th century, he worked right up until his passing. After he was born in a small town in depression era South Carolina, his family relocated to Augusta, Georgia, where a young James helped support his family by picking cotton and shining shoes.
After trying his hand as a boxer, then a baseball player, eventually James turned to music, performing in a gospel group called the Gospel Starlighters in 1955. Joining Bobby Byrds' group, The Avons, later becoming known as The Famous Flames, James tasted his first success in 1956, with the song "Please, Please, Please" charting as high as #5 on the R & B charts and selling over a million copies.
Not truly hitting his stride until 1962's legendary Live At The Apollo, James went on to define funk with songs such as "Papa's Got A Brand New Bag" and "I Got You (I Feel Good)." Appearing in countless movies, TV shows, and touring relentlessly over the years, James constantly and consistently set the bar high for those that came after.
James Brown May 10, 2006 at Stubb's Bar-B-Q
staff photo by jeff barringer |
I remember first listening to his music in the late 60s, tuning in via a tiny little transistor a.m. radio, hearing his songs along with the songs of other contemporaries like the Supremes, Aretha Franklin, and the Four Tops. I watched James perform in the 70s on Don Cornelius's TV Show "Soul Train" several times, and was forever influenced by his funky rhythms. I missed an opportunity to see him live in Las Vegas at the Hard Rock Cafe in the 90s and always regretted it. I finally got to see James perform this year in Austin at Stubb's, and consider it to be one of my favorite live shows.
James Brown has left a legacy that few can hope to match, his influence extending beyond description into today's music. It is hard to say where the R & B and hip-hop scenes would be today without the seeds that James Brown has sown, but doubtless it would be less colorful, exciting, or funky. James will be missed.
Mower
Hometown: San Diego, Ca.
http://www.mowermusic.com
Mower Concert Photos
Tuesday, December 19, 2006
Red Eyed Fly (Austin, Texas)
Talk about your road warriors. As you read this, the guys in the band Mower are probably unpacking their van back at home in Southern California. I got an opportunity to catch them last week on the final leg of their U.S tour after they stopped in Austin to play with Powderburn down at the Red Eyed Fly. I was lucky enough to interview one of Mower's founding members, vocalist Brian Sheerin, in the parking lot before the set. Watch for a review of the show soon!
Sunday, December 24. 2006
 I feel I should warn you guys about the dangers of folk music. You may feel, like I once did, that you would never be stupid enough to get into folk. I mean, we’ve all seen those sad bearded fools delirious on the joys of hard accordion, and thought “I’ll never let that happen to me!�
Well, I’m here to tell you. It can happen. It happened to me.
I started off as many rock folk do, y’know a bit of New Model Army, a couple of Levellers' albums. It’s not really “folk,� I told myself. It’s so heavy! I thought I could handle it. I thought I could keep it under control. Then before I knew it, I was enjoying a regular dose of Kate Rusby and downloading Nick Drake albums. It took me a while before I admitted to myself I was hooked.
My name is Tony Reptiles and I have a folk music habit.
There. I said it. And it feels good!
So when the new CD by Roddy Woomble landed in my mailbox, I thought I was saved. Roddy is the lead singer of Scottish rock band Idlewild, which is well known for their loud, abrasive,punk rock sound. “No folk fix here, then!� I thought.
I should have known better by the picture on the sleeve. “FECK OFF!!!!� he seems to be saying from beneath his beard and thick knit beanie hat. Sorry Roddy, here, have a beer! You’re alright you are! You’re my best mate you are!
I slipped the CD into the machine and sat down with the media notes. Then it hit me. This was folk, alright. Another smooth mellow hit of folk. I eased back into my seat as the fiddle and the accordion took hold of me again.
Although the last few Idlewild albums kind of leaned in this direction, this solo project is something more traditional. “These are songs that would never have lived with Idlewild, but are very much a part of me," says Roddy in the media notes. “I felt like I was part of a new band. This allowed me to feel free to describe myself in a way I’ve wanted to for a long time……and I think it shows.�
The album was two tracks in when I caught myself tapping my foot. “As still as I watched your grave� is a meaty, beaty track where you can still get a sniff of the Roddy’s rock roots. (Should you indeed wish to?) “Whiskyface� is an acoustic fiddle-battering tune that left me wanting more.
But most of this album is pretty mellow and acoustic, and blends into the background easily. I like that in an album. I found myself enjoying the smoothness without having to try too hard. “Waverly steps� would be at home on commercial radio with its melodic vocals and electric guitar. I think I can hear a single release here.
You would certainly need a folk leaning to enjoy this album in its entirety, but I think you should give it a try. There’s something here for discerning the listener and you’ll catch yourself enjoying it - if you can get over the fact that it's folk. There are some great melodies and some excellent musicians at work. They just happen to be a bit folky, that’s all.
Track list after the jump.
Continue reading "CD Review: Roddy Woomble – My Secret is My Silence"
Saturday, December 23. 2006
 Children of Bodom
Hometown: Espoo, Finland
Amon Amarth
Hometown: Tumba, Sweden
Gojira
Hometown: Bayonne, France
The Rave (Milwaukee, WI)
Dec. 13, 2006
I'm really starting to feel a little like Riki Rachtman in his days on the Ball in the 90s. Every review I write is a full of adoration and praise for the bands I just saw. Granted, I am not in love with each and every band, but perhaps I'm just blessed with the opportunity to choose who I review.
I was somewhat familiar with two of the three bands on the bill that night, and had a great time bouncing to the music, still missing the pleasure of a pit. I am so totally in love with the Euro-metal in all fashions at this point I can't stand it. I now know metal is back. With such great music starting over there, I expect to see metal take over the world again in the near future.
First up was Gojira (originally named Godzilla, but due to legal issues, they went with the untranslated version of the name) from France. This was the band that was new to me. The Rave basement was packed for the openers, which gave me a clue that all three bands were going to rock.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Children of Bodom, Amon Amarth and Gorija, Milwaukee WI"
Friday, December 22. 2006
 It is now Friday December 22nd and it is time to play WTF Friday, the game where you tell us the first 10 songs that come up on your music player when you hit the Random or Shuffle button. At stake is a classic kingsnake.com T-shirt and the a chance to win the monthly grand prize, a black 30Gb video iPod. Also we welcome Metal Blade Records as a contest sponsor this month, so everyone that wins a shirt or iPod will also get a copy of Metal Blade's 2006 Summer Sampler with 18 bands including Cannibal Corpse, Unearth and more! We finally heard from last months winner Don Maynard and he should be getting his iPod right about now.
December will be the last month we run the iPod contest. We have 1 iPod left, and Microsoft never got back to us when we asked them if they wanted to give away some of their Zune players. It's been fun, and we will find some other contest to play with.
Here is my list... .
1. Little Drummer Boy - Bing Crosby & David Bowie
2. Santa Claus is Coming To Town - Bruce Springsteen
3. Father Christmas - Kinks
4. Run Rudolph Run - Dave Edmunds Band
5. Twelve Days Of Christmas - Bob & Doug McKenzie
6. Silent Night - Keith Emerson
7. Winter Wonderland - The Fabulous Thunderbirds
6. Rock And Roll Christmas - George Thorogood & The Destroyers
7. Christmas Is - Run D.M.C.
8. Blue Christmas - Sheryl Crow
9. Ave Maria - Chris Cornell
10. We Three Kings - Patti Smith
Once again, we give away a kingsnake.com T-shirt to each of our weekly winners and the monthly winner gets a spankin new 30Gb video iPod! For the complete set of rules see http://club.kingsnake.com/index.php?/pages/wtfcontest.html
You MUST post your list TODAY, Friday, for it to qualify for the contest so POST AWAY.
Technorati Tags:
iPod, Contest, Free T-Shirt
Thursday, December 21. 2006
 Johan Hegg, the vocalist from Amon Amarth, is surprisingly soft spoken and an all around nice guy. He chatted with club.kingsnake about the road, relaxing, and, of course, Vikings.
Special thanks to Johan, Sigi (their road manager), and, as always, Metal Blade Records for the opportunity to sit down and chat, especially with the chaos of a fresh starting tour.
Club: Your music is a tad different than most death metal out there right now, at least lyrically. Rather than singing about impaling bodies, you focus on telling stories through Norse mythology. Has that helped you guys, or hurt, do you think?
Johan: In the beginning I think it may have hurt us, being different, but now, it seems people really are into us being different. We really just want to tell a good story and have the story show our music. In the beginning it was a little bit of a problem. Our lyrics sometimes get confused with being either religious or political when they are not. We are not a political band or a religious one. We tell stories.
Club: Do you see a big difference between fans here in the US and fans in Europe. To us here it seems that the music scene is sometimes so much better over in Europe.
Johan: There really isn't as much of a difference between fans here and in Europe. Fans seem about the same everywhere. We have very loyal fans and we are very thankful for that.
Club: What can you say is probably the coolest thing about being on the road?
Johan: It is very cool to see the fans. Spend time with them. They are incredibly loyal, and that is great, and it is really nice to get to spend even just a little time with them. We can't do it as much as we would like, but that is probably the coolest thing. Looking and seeing them now wearing shirts from our first US tour here and the same over in Europe. Seeing people who have been with us from the start. That means a lot to us.
Club: How was Wacken?
Johan: It was GREAT. We played there this year. 2 am, 30,000 fans and a live Viking stage fight. It was amazing.
Club: I've wanted to go to Wacken since I was young. That had to be amazing. Have you noticed a major shift in the age of the fans? Here in the US for us, we tend to feel like fogeys at the shows, and we are in our early 30s. Have you noticed anything like that?
Johan: We noticed on our tour we just finished in Europe, that we saw a large range of ages. The kids in their teens but we are also seeing a lot of people in their 40s. It's kind of neat to see that.
Club: Have you noticed, at least here in the US, that there is a bit of a difference in sales with satellite radio hitting the market with a force? I have to admit, I first heard you guys on Hard Attack and I am finding more bands than I even remember to check out through what I hear on there.
Johan: We have noticed in the last few years that US sales have really gone up. I'm not sure if it is our being out there more on the road or the radio, but the last three years our sales have really jumped. That's a good thing because it means more people are hearing our music and liking it.
Club: How do you guys handle being together on the road? These are real close quarters and I would think you all would want to kill each other by the end of a tour.
Johan: You have to check egos at the door. There is no room for that here. We have been together for many years, and become such close friends that we do fine. We know how to work together. The biggest thing is you can not be an egomaniac. And you would be surprised how soundproof the bunks are. I always take a week or two off when I get home to just relax. You need that.
Club: What do you do on the road to keep yourselves entertained? What do you do for fun?
Johan: We can get on the internet from almost anywhere. Computer games, resting.
Club: No wild parties then?
Johan: Oh we still party, but we realized that people are paying good prices to come see us. We don't want to waste their money by being drunk when they come. We have been there and done that.
Club: What do you do off the road to relax?
Johan: I actually have a normal job and that is really nice. The first tour I just went home and sat around. But I need to have a purpose, I need to do something. I find it actually relaxing to have the job.
Club: I just wanted to thank you for taking the time to sit down with us. See you tonight at the show.
Peaches
 Peaches
Hometown: Toronto, Canada
http://www.peachesrocks.com/
Club Kingsnake Peaches Photo Gallery
Friday, December 16, 2006
The Fillmore (San Francisco, CA)
Also: Whitey
I didn't have a camera pass, so you'll have to content yourself gazing at the huge gallery of Peaches concert photos shot by Jeff Barringer at her show in Austin, one of which is on the right. I personally contented myself gazing at Peaches' drummer, the hotter than hot Samantha Maloney.
Whitey opened. I wasn't impressed. I am not ready for the 80s to be back, and I didn't like Gary Numan the first time around, either, so really, we didn't need his reincarnation. The friends I was with commented that it seemed like a Saturday Night Live skit, and you know, it did. Let's just say, not for me, and move on.
Peaches is also not for everyone. In fact, she's proabably not for too much of anyone. But those who love her love her madly, because she's completely unashamed, balls-to-the-wall, and raunchy. She slathers it with politics and genderfuck, and she holds nothing back at all.
Her Wikipedia entry refers to her music as "electroclash," and why the hell not, I have no idea what else to call it. It's kind of techno, kind of rap, kind of punk, kind of bad art school performance art, kind of strip show, with a veneer of rock and roll. Her band was hot, she was working the crowd and they loved her, and there's no better way to see Peaches.
I didn't get a set list, but "Two Guys for Every Girl," "AA XXX," "Shake Yer Dix," "Boys Wanna Be Her," "Stick it to the Pimp," and "Rock Show" were standouts.
I find it hard to understand how Peaches can ever find any vestige of mainstream success, as nearly every song she sings is absolutely filthy, but she's been on a lot of movie and TV show soundtracks (including the L Word recently), as well as being featured in.... are you sitting down?... a Gap commercial.
Jeff commented that the audience in Austin was almost all women - the audience here was 50/50, so I'm not sure what the deal was in Austin.
She sweated, stripped, rocked, and got gross.
And did I mention her drummer was hot?
 Madness
Hometown: London, UK
http://www.madness.co.uk/
Friday, December 7, 2006
Brixton Academy (London, UK)
If you don’t know Madness, you need to know Madness. If you haven’t seen them live yet, I ask ya, what are you waiting for? They are out on tour in the UK at the moment. Get your arse off the sofa and come along to their next gig. If you like dancing all night as apposed to thrashing during a show, this is the band for you. British, of course, don’t you know, darling, fabulous ska/2-tone band of the 1980s and, in my books, still going strong! I know that they haven't had the greatest of success in the USA, but I’m hoping that you haven’t missed out totally because of this.
 Originally named The North London Invaders, this band was formed in 1976 by Mike Barson (Monsieur Barson - keyboards), Chris Foreman (Chrissy Boy - guitar) and Lee Thompson (Kix - sax). In 1978 Graham McPherson (Suggs – lead vocals) joined as the band’s frontman with Mark Bedford (Bedders – base guitar), Karl (Chas Smash – backing vocals/acoustic guitar) and Danniel Woodgate (Woody - drums).
Not long after these additions to the line-up, they changed their name to Madness, which was taken from Prince Buster’s single strangely enough named "Madness." Madness first ever single was a tribute to Prince Buster and was called "The Prince." Then came the release of their first album One Step Beyond in 1979.
The night of the show, Brixton Academy is heaving. There are all sorts of folk here from all walks of life. The young, people my age and older. This just reminds me of how long I’ve respected and adored this band. The first ever time I saw them live was when I was 13, barely 14. My mother took me. And here, looking around, mothers and fathers have brought their kids. It’s certainly a family band, one to be enjoyed by all. It's great to see the old skool skin’eads, dressed up all proper like, all dapper! Assembled centre pit, ready for a serious knees up and a bit of argy bargy, if ya know what I mean.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Madness at Brixton Academy"
Wednesday, December 20. 2006
 Quietly on my PVR sat an episode of VH1's classic albums. I've watched lots of these before, but never has such an emotional response been stirred in me.
This episode was about Nirvana, Nevermind. Released in late September 1991, Nevermind pretty much single handedly brought the Seattle "grunge" scene to the mainstream, and signed the death warrant for the most popular music of the time. What is now affectionately known as Hair Metal died that year.
I can still vividly recall where I was the first time I heard "Smells Like Teen Spirit." I close my eyes and I'm in my girlfriend's tiny, dank basement apartment at 132nd Street and 106a Ave in Surrey (the armpit of) B.C. I'm alone. Andrea is probably working at the Subway on King George Highway, selling sandwiches to the junkies, hookers, and strippers, hoping to screw one up so it can't be sold and she can bring it home and we can eat that day. Much Music airs the video and I am transfixed. I have never seen anything like this. The emotion, the distortion, the destruction.
On the other side of the country in Quebec's Eastern townships are Sliky and T-Bag, lead singer and bassist in my band Scooter Trash. They also witness this phoenix rising from the ashes of corporate rock.
Shortly after their return to B.C. it was Andrea, Sliky, T-Bag, and myself all living in the tiny apartment on 106a Ave. T-Bag had returned from Quebec with a vintage Harley and an old pickup truck (I'm not saying where the money came from). This at least allowed us to escape from the 200 square foot basement apartment prison. We set out to find this Nevermind. Nowhere in Surrey is it available so we decided to head south, across the border, and try our luck. Bellingham, Washington, U.S.A ..... success. We now had Nevermind (on cassette!).
The journey home was an education and an indoctrination, "Smells Like Teen Spirit" blasting out of the speakers while the truck's pathetic stereo begs for mercy. Never have we experienced anything like this and I can say that I have not heard anything like it since.
Did Nevermind effect you this way? Maybe you didn't care, maybe you hated it? What album is important to you?
Tuesday, December 19. 2006
 The Skunks
Hometown: Austin, Tx.
http://www.myspace.com/theskunkstx
The Skunks Concert Photos
Friday, December 15th, 2006
The Continental Club (Austin, Texas)
Geez, from the title of this review you'd think it was 1979 all over again.
Back in the day when being a punk literally meant getting your ass kicked just for walking down the street in Austin, there was the scene, and it was small, and it was tight, and it was centered on this tiny little bar on the drag called Raul's. Mostly college kids with a few outcast high schoolers, just hanging out being goth, or thrash, or wave, or hard core, before any of those words were invented or began to divide the culture. We didn't know what we were, but we called ourselves punks. We didn't fit in with the jocks or the hippies, the future farmers or the guys in the marching band. We didn't fit in anywhere.
Raul's was kind of the "Island of Unwanted Toys" for all the lost souls looking for a direction. Raul's was Austin's counter-cultural home to disparate artists, musicians, poets, and writers from the University of Texas's fringiest of fringes.
Sprouting from Raul's beer soaked floors, like noxious weeds after a rain, Austin's punk scene grew in fits and starts. The genesis of so much to come later, it was a struggling little dive. It was also, almost as a last gasp, an album of live performances from local Austin punk bands released just before the club met its end. Named fittingly Live At Raul's, it was a now-legendary sampler that included two songs by a band called The Skunks. This review is about that band.
 Back then, when I first saw them opening for The Ramones back at the 'dillo, it was what's considered now the "classic" Skunks trio, the second iteration of the band after "Fast Eddy" Muñoz, the original guitarist, went west to start The Plimsouls. The band I saw was Jesse Sublett on bass, John Dee Graham on guitars, and Billy Blackmon on drums. A power trio, their music was basic, clean, loud and fast. A great band to slam dance to for its time. (you youngsters now refer to it as "moshing.") I saw them another 25 or 30 times afterwards, in both the classic trio and the later versions as well, at places like Duke's Royal Coach, The Continental Club, and Club Foot. In 1983 the Skunks broke up, but they left a legacy that stretches to this day in Austin (Jon Dee Graham was honored as "Musician of the Year" at the Austin Music Awards in 2006).
On Friday December 15, the "classic" trio got together for a special one-off "reunion" concert at Austin's Continental Club, and I was lucky enough to make it to the show.
Packed stem to stern, just like the old days, the Continental Club evoked strong memories of Christmas past as I worked my way to the front of the stage. I arrived just after midnight and the Skunks were already onstage and had just finished their first song, "All Tied Up," and were launching into "Something About You Scares Me." I hurriedly unpacked my camera bag, brought the cameras up to my face and started snapping away at the band. About 30 frames into the shoot I felt a tug on my elbow, turned and came face to face with my sister-in-law. Beyond her was my brother, an old friend from high school and her husband, and even an ex-boss.
 Waving and going back to shooting I was only able to manage 30 or 40 more frames before my friends forced me to put the cameras away and dance. And dance we did, but seemingly only us and a few other people at the front. I don't know if it was the age of the attendees or what, but there was only a handful of us at the front, bouncing around. The Skunks plowed through their set as we bopped away, Jesse introducing songs with a story from back in the day to give them context and perspective. Old nuggets like "Gimme Some" and "Earthquake Shake" were a joy to hear live again, as were "Telewoman" and "Push Me Around." They even covered Iggy Pop's "Now I Wanna Be Your Dog" and The Velvet Underground's "Waiting For My Man." While my brother and friends were frustrated when they didn't play "Cheap Girl" as their encore, I myself was satisfied.
The only problems the whole night turned out to be a lecherous, rotund, dancing dwarf who was playing grab-ass with the women at the front. After the Skunks' set my brother and I attempted to track him down but he escaped into the night up South Congress Avenue. After taking the time to thank Jesse, Billy, and Jon for the performance, so did I.
If you want to read more about the Skunks there is an excellent article in this month's Austin Chronicle.
Friday, December 15. 2006
It is now Friday December 15th and it is time to play WTF Friday, the game where you tell us the first 10 songs that come up on your music player when you hit the Random or Shuffle button. At stake is a classic kingsnake.com T-shirt and the a chance to win the monthly grand prize, a black 30Gb video iPod. Also we welcome Metal Blade Records as a contest sponsor this month, so everyone that wins a shirt or iPod will also get a copy of Metal Blade's 2006 Summer Sampler with 18 bands including Cannibal Corpse, Unearth and more! Congrats to last months winner Don Maynard but this is a last call (We are still waiting to hear back from you!). Don if we don't hear from you by THIS Friday we will have to give the iPod to last months runner up!
December will be the last month we run the iPod contest. We have 1 iPod left, and Microsoft never got back to us when we asked them if they wanted to give away some of their Zune players. It's been fun, and we will find some other contest to play with.
Here is my list... .
1. I Ran - Flock of Seagulls
2. He's a Whore - Cheap Trick
3. Keep Away - Godsmack
4. Kill All The White Men - NOFX
5. Mr E's Beautiful Blues - Eels
6. Nihilism - Rancid
7. Lethal Dosage - Mudvayne
6. Hop With the Jet Set - Dead Kennedys
7. Hitler's in the Charts Again - The Exploited
8. Fake Plastic Trees - Radiohead
9. Damaged Goods
10. Fuck the System - System of a Down
Once again, we give away a kingsnake.com T-shirt to each of our weekly winners and the monthly winner gets a spankin new 30Gb video iPod! For the complete set of rules see http://club.kingsnake.com/index.php?/pages/wtfcontest.html
You MUST post your list TODAY, Friday, for it to qualify for the contest so POST AWAY.
Technorati Tags:
iPod, Contest, Free T-Shirt
Wednesday, December 13. 2006
 It's been over a year since Hurricane Katrina devastated the Gulf Coast, and while the re-building continues, much more is needed just to get back to zero. A lot of people are still living in FEMA trailers and trying to put their lives back together piece by piece. Working musicians seemed to suffer a triple whammy, as it's hard enough to earn a living as a musician to start with, without having to find a new home. Hoping the crowds return to the Big Easy has left many musicians struggling.
If you really want to celebrate during this season of giving, why not tuck something into the New Orleans Musicians Relief Fund's stocking and help out some of the people that make New Orleans the hot home of cool jazz? NOMRF can help you make sure your gift this season gets to some people who really need it. Donations are tax deductible and can be made on their web site at http://www.nomrf.org/.
 I'm not a big fan of Sarah McLachlan, finding her mostly overly sentimental and over-produced, a deadly combination. There's no denying her voice is beautiful, and I have a few remixes, live cuts, and duets with other artists that get fairly heavy play on my iPod. But a fan? No.
I'm also not a big fan of holiday compilations.
So what the hell am I doing reviewing Wintersong, a holiday CD released last week by Sarah McLachlan? I got hooked on it when I downloaded, in a fit of perversity, her cover of John Lennon's "Happy Xmas (War is Over)," and thought it was... gulp... really good. Okay, maybe my brain melts at the holidays, I don't know. Probably that's the reason why I completely lost my senses and bought the whole freaking CD.
And it really doesn't suck. The icy purity of her voice works beautifully with the Christmas standards, such as "Silent Night" and "What Child is This," while also doing beautiful justice to newer holiday songs like the Lennon cover and Joni Mitchell's "River."
So I don't know, if you have to buy a holiday CD this year, you could do a lot worse than the unrelenting prettiness of Wintersong. And I won't tell anyone you bought it.
Note: "Silent Night" from the CD is the free download on iTunes this week, and you can also see videos from the CD on Amazon here.
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