Wednesday, May 30. 2007
Armored Saint at The Viper Room. May 23, 2007
photo courtesy Stephanie Cabral |
Armored Saint
Hometown: Los Angeles, CA
http://www.armoredsaint.com/
Saturday, May 19, 2007
The Viper Room (Hollywood, CA)
Opening acts: Cockpit, Chingalera
Armored Saint is back on a crusade to give their fans straight, no-glam pure metal. My first exposure to the Saint was back circa 1984 at a concert they opened for Whitesnake and Quiet Riot, somewhere in Chicago. I was floored when I saw them then, and was pleasantly delighted to see them bringing it again Saturday night at the Viper Room in Hollywood -- a great place to see a live show, very intimate with a capacity of 200.
The East Los Angeles quintet featuring John Bush (back from his Anthrax stint) was nearly its former complete line up, minus Dave Prichard (R.I.P.) and the addition of ex-Odin guitarist, Jeff Duncan. The first song of the set was hard-hitting fan favorite “Long Before I Die� from their third release Delirious Nomad. They followed with “Can U Deliver� from my favorite album, March of the Saint. The crowd was hoarse from the get-go. Next was “The Pillar� from their 2000 release Revelation.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Armored Saint, Hollywood, CA"
Tuesday, May 29. 2007
The Crimson Tides at the Under Dog. May 23, 2007 - more photos...
photo by clint gilders - staff photographer |
Night 1:
You gotta hand it to Brian, the Fat Liger himself, he puts together some cool shows. Wednesday night's lineup consisted of a jam band, progressive metal, vicious punk, and solo electronica.
First on the bill was an unnamed impromptu jam band comprised of members of some local bands such as the Jamsexuals and Gagner. I missed most of their set, but it seemed like a nice non-commital way to start the night.
Next on little stage at the Under Dog were Paraesthesia. A local Peterborough band, they play plodding (in a good way) metal that immediately brought to mind the Misfits and Black Sabbath. On their myspace page they list an eclectic collection of influences, and many of these are evident in their music while still maintaining a specific direction and style. This is a band I'd like to catch again.
Paraesthesia at The Under Dog.
May 23, 2007 - more photos...
photo by clint gilders - staff photographer |
The Crimson Tides out of Halifax, Nova Scotia, simply killed. They perform with an intensity only seen in punk music. Five second songs, banter about getting punched in the head at a Rammer show ,and the bassist's recent (unrelated?) head injury, broken bottles and the little girl and her beer landing on me while I tried to get some photos made for a great time.
Rounding out this schizophrenic lineup was A/V, a solo dj-punk-dance-electronica act. Though not necessarily my cup of tea, it was pretty cool. This guy rocked while playing sequencers, something I didn't know could be done.
Night 2:
Man it was hot on Thursday, and even when temps had dropped in the evening, the Red Dog hung on to the staggering heat like it was a badge of honour.
Continue reading "Concert Review: The Red Dog double header, the Crimson Tides, the Embarrassments, and more - Peterborough, Ontario"
Friday, May 25. 2007
Blacklist at SXSW07
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Welcome to our new feature, Free Music Friday! Every Friday one of our editors will let you know where you can download music for free -- legally -- someplace on the web.
I saw the band Blacklist and interviewed them at this year's SXSW. Fronted by Josh Strawn, it's a great band with a dark, moody, brooding sound, like the Breakfast Club soundtrack gone goth. Songs like "Dawn Of The Idols" and "Exit" are reminiscent of bands like the Call and the Fixx. Blacklist has made a bunch of their songs available for free to download in the media section of their web site located at http://www.listofblack.com/. Check them out and let us know what you think.
If you know someplace people can download free legal music drop us a note!
Rocket 55 at The Rave- more photos...
photo by brian rampacek - staff photographer |
Emergenza is a worldwide music talent contest. The largest part of the contest is done on local levels, with actual audience vote. You can think of it as American Idol for rock music. When attending an Emergenza show, be prepared for incredibly short sets. Each band is only allotted 20 minutes from introduction to closing, and the timekeeper watches closely. There are also the elements for the bands to deal with. Bad mixes at some locations, equipment that isn’t theirs (Emergenza has bands use their equipment to speed the band switches), malfunctions. This is also probably one of those venues where being an early performer is probably a good bet.
We were invited by Conniption (previously reviewed as Wrath, but the name had to be changed due to legal issues), and when we finally made it to one of their shows, it happened to be their last on the festival. It's a shame since I still feel pretty much the same way as I did before about them.
Continue reading "Concert Review: Emergenza Battle, the Rave Milwaukee WI"
Thursday, May 24. 2007
 In 2006, Les Claypool and his Fancy Band toured a number of clubs in the U.S. I was lucky enough to cover the tour when it hit Austin, and all night long I kept bumping into a videographer filming the show. It turns out there were a number of videographers who worked the various shows throughout the tour, and this DVD is the end result.
This is how you make a real concert video.
I've watched lots and lots of live concert footage released on DVD, and it seems the more "professional" the filming, editing, and equipment, the more energy and excitement gets sucked out of the end product. I know that few of the concert videos I've owned or reviewed ever get watched more than once. All the MTV-like 3 second cutaways and the swirling zooming telescopic camera angles get me dizzy. I actually got nauseated trying to watch Motorhead's last performance DVD, and I pity the camera man that had to ride the platform to get all those helicopter-like zooms.
Les Claypool's video is nothing like that. Stripped down, lean, mean, not without flaws, this is a bare bones, almost archival, video of last year's tour. After watching this video I got the feeling of being at a Les Claypool concert, not watching some fancy Hollywood production number. It helps that I actually WAS at this concert; at least five songs from the DVD were filmed at their Austin gig at La Zona Rosa, but even the bits filmed at other venues in Cleveland, Boston, and New York still impart that same feeling.
Continue reading "DVD Review: Les Claypool - Fancy"
Tuesday, May 22. 2007
 Fate has decreed that I review this CD. I got the opportunity to see Loudon Wainwright III perform at La Zona Rosa for the media party for the Judd Apatow film Knocked Up during this year's SXSW, so it came as a pleasant surprise to see a copy of the CD Strange Weirdos: Music From And Inspired By The Film Knocked Up, show up in my mailbox last week. Then tonight watching Conan O'Brien, I catch him playing again.
With a recording career stretching back to 1970, it's a little surprising to find Loudon Wainwright III doing the soundtrack for a film aimed at such a young audience, but it's not that surprising knowing how seemingly random and disconnected the connections in the entertainment industry can be. The music itself is certainly a refreshing change from the buzzsaw guitars I'm usually reviewing. A singer-songwriter, one of many touted in the 70s as the new "Dylan," his voice reminds me a lot of Don McLean, but not quite as flowery. Probably best known to the public for his 70s song "Dead Skunk In The Middle Of The Road," I remember him more for the three episodes of M.A.S.H., where he was credited in the role as Capt. Calvin Spaulding, the singing surgeon.
I really enjoyed seeing him play live, and he performed a number of songs off this disc. This CD is loaded with great music and I especially enjoyed the cuts "Grey in L.A." and and "Valley Morning." Loudon even shines on the songs he didn't write, like Peter Blegvad's "Daughter." This disc is like a series of audio snapshots taken with a black and white camera that captures the emptiness of living in modern day suburbia. It will be interesting to see how the music works with the film. I really enjoyed this disc and it will end up long term on my iPod.
Friday, May 18. 2007
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Rage Against The Machine at Coachella - more photos...
photo by gary miller - staff photographer |
Truer words can’t be said about Coachella than, “This is for the people of the sun.� It was hot. One of the reasons I never considered going in the past was because I thought people were crazy for wanting to go to the desert to fry. I sucked it up, and I’m glad I did.
I first started thinking about Coachella ten months before the weekend of April 27. I was actually invited as a part of reunion gathering between a few of my good high school/college buddies who I was lucky enough to reunite with late last year. My friend Mike (‘Head� as we endearingly call him – recall So I Married an Axe Murderer) thought what a perfect time it would be – good music, good weather, and old friends. I was in, and after it was all said and done, had one of the best times in recent memory.
I won’t bother you with the details but I can tell you we rented a million dollar house on a golf course, stocked the places to the gills with alcohol, and used the pool, hot tub, and other amenities to the fullest extent. This is the way to go if you can; no way I could pitch a tent in Tent City with the jillions of other much-more-younger music goers.
Continue reading "Coachella 2007: Highlights and impressions"
Thursday, May 17. 2007
Hwy 13 - Kenosha WI
Binky Tunny and the Farmland Chokehold - Milwaukee WI
Project 44 - Chicago IL
 From just a short trip south of the home of Harley Davidson, Hwy 13 is just a good old-fashioned biker rock band. they describe themselves as “A bunch of old fuckers who just want to rock;" I think that explains it all. If you've never been to a summer festival in the Midwest, this type of music may just be lost on you. And that’s a shame. While not a genre that's going to generate a lot of income, these are bands that entire families enjoy. Think of George Thorogood meets David Allen Coe meets Lynard Skynard. That’s what biker rock is. And Hwy 13 fits the bill nicely. Playing everything from an original dedicated to the one woman who hasn’t let down vocalist Danno, his motorcycle, entitled “She’s The One,� to a kick ass cover of Judas Priest’s “Hell Bend for Leather�, Hwy 13 had one helluva time playing and made everyone else have a great time too. So what if they are just a bunch of “old fuckers.�
 Ahhhh tables are turned Miss Tunny. The next band was Binky Tunny and the Farmland Chokehold. Binky is a music writer for Intense Ink, a monthly tattoo and music magazine in the Midwest. Now it’s her turn. Had Courtney Love never become a drug-addled freak, she may have grown up to be Binky. Part cheerleader, part guitarist, part punk, part rock, Binky is a person who has to have fun dusting, and it totally comes across when she is one stage. One of the most entertaining performers to just watch, and the music wasn’t half bad either. From a little bit of the intro of Pink Floyd’s “Machine� to an AMAZING cover of the Misfits’ “Attitude� (and this is the real Misfits with Glenn, not the dark match Misfits people hear now) that I still am proud to have heard, Binky Tunny and gang is a band to see. I must say my favorite tune of the night was her “Poe-Em� entitled “Flower.� I think I have a new theme song to my days.
I am a delicate flower
I must be handled with kid gloves.
I will require your right arm and full attention
Do not drop me, for I am wafer thin
To prevent bruising; avoid squeezing
Keep me lily white and happy
I am a fragile thing
Closing their set with a fabulous cover of Black Sabbath’s “Electric Funeral,� Binky shows the world that not only is she definitely ready to play with the boys, but she is damned good at it. And for the record, although female, Binky had no issues with playing in a strip club, hell, she brought the girls up on stage.
 Project 44 made a long trip to play at Heartbreaker’s, coming up from Chicago. After hearing them, I think we may need to make a few trips down south. Industrial music with a sample machine and electric drums, they were the heaviest act of the night. Aggressive and heavy, it was music that almost made you want to punch the guy next to you in the face. I do think the stage was too small for the vocalist, but damn it was a heavy as hell show. “Fall Down� was amazing and had an almost Nine Inch Nails feel to it. I also really liked the song “Warpath.� They were what I was hoping them to be and more. I just liked the pure aggression and force that this music infused. I never really seek out industrial music, but almost every time I hear it, I am blown away. Project 44 did that.
 Yep, that's right. It has just been announced that Rob Halford, The Metal God himself will be visiting NXNE. June 9th in Toronto from 2pm-3pm Rob (Mr Halford sir!?) will be the subject of a celebrity interview. Also making special live and/or Panel appearances are Dave Foley, Serena Ryder, The Cancer Bats, J Mascis and Dinosaur Jr., Joe Boyd, Peaches, Don Letts and many others.
club.kingsnake will be there, and here's hoping I can do as much damage to myself as I did at SXSW.
Wednesday, May 16. 2007
Kerry King of Slayer - more photos...
photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer |
Slayer launches their European tour on June 2nd in Nurberg Germany at the Rock Am Ring festival with the Arctic Monkeys, The White Stripes, Killswitch Engage, Velvet Revolver, along with another 50 or so bands. Slayer returns at the end of July to co-headline a late summer tour with Marilyn Manson that ends at the Verizon Wireless Amphitheater in San Antonio September 1st.
No summer in the south of France for Z.Z. Top, who have canceled the European leg of their tour so that Dusty Hill can undergo treatment for a benign growth in his inner ear. Preliminary treatment plans do not include surgery.
NXNE keynote speaker Bob Harris at BBC's Radio 2 has had to cancel his appearance at this years NXNE after being diagnosed with prostrate cancer. His production team will be there to proceed with the scheduled broadcast of the `Bob Harris Presents' showcase night and to cut in live NXNE content into Bob's regular shows which will now broadcast from the UK
If you ever wanted to see Linkin Park for free here is your chance! AT& T's Blue Room is giving away a trip for two to see Linkin Park’s Project Revolution tour in San Bernardino, CA and you get to travel to the show aboard the Luxurious–Rock Star Gibson Tour Bus! For details on more neat contest stuff check out the AT&T blue room web site.
Monday, May 14. 2007
B.B. King at Roy Thompson Hall. - more photos...
photo by clint gilders - staff photographer |
B.B. King carries himself with a kind of quiet class. In fact, his entire band and entourage do. From the gentlemen who escort him on and off stage to the road manager, everyone is dressed to the nines. B.B. himself explained that he doesn't know anything about the ghetto or the "hood." He was a Mississippi farm boy who plowed fields and picked cotton, who went on the become one the most successful R&B and blues musicians still living today.
B.B., now 81, made a stop in Toronto on May 11, and I sure am glad I was there. The show started with B.B.'s band performing two instrumentals, and then they were joined on stage by the man himself. The band by itself is phenomenal. Horns, guitar, bass, drums and keyboard make up the group. All these men are seasoned musicians, and none what we might call young (unless we compare them to B.B.). 
B.B. King at Roy Thompson Hall.
photo by clint gilders - staff photographer |
This was reinforced when, in introducing the band, B.B. explained that the keyboard player was filling in for "the man we buried yesterday."
B.B. sits down to play now, and this contributes to the intimate nature of his live show. He also spends a lot of time telling stories and interacting with the more jovial members of the audience. Between (and during!) songs we were treated to stories of boyhood trips to town, later trips where after a "beer and half" he'd venture across the tracks to see if the "white water" tasted different from the "colored water." B.B. can laugh now about the repercussions if he'd been caught on the wrong side of the tracks in the segregated south of the 1930s and 40s, but admits that at the time it was no laughing matter. The audience also sustained a good hearted ribbing when they failed to join in during "When Love Comes To Town," which was written for Mr. King by U2's Bono.
The evening's highlight for me was when the horn section left the stage and B.B., with the guitarist and bassist seated on either side of him, played some great blues and told more of his stories. The legend's guitar tone was to die for, and I loved watching him let loose on occasion with some delicious runs and his trademark otherworldly singing vibrato. "You Are My Sunshine" was incredible!
At the end of the perormance, Mr. King strolled to the front of the stage, where he greeted the grateful fans, and handed out guitar picks and necklaces. It was during this meet-and-greet that a small boy dressed in his Sunday best was passed up to the stage to get a hug from B.B.
Hopefully that boy will someday realize what a special moment that was.
Deborah Cameron has been producing B.B. King shows in Canada for the last 18 years and she is at the helm of the 2007 Canadian tour. She was kind enough to allow me a rare opportunity to photograph the show. Special thanks to Deborah, the staff of the Roy Thompson Hall (that includes you Christina), and B.B. King's management and staff.
B.B. King at Roy Thompson Hall - more photos... photo by clint gilders - staff photographer
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Saturday, May 12. 2007
Paul Meany of MuteMath - more photos...
photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer |
MuteMath
Hometown: New Orleans, La.
http://www.mutemath..com
MuteMath Concert Photos
Thursday , May 3rd, 2007
La Zona Rosa(Austin, Texas)
Also: Club of Sons, Someone Still Loves You Boris Yeltsin, The Cinematics
I first saw MuteMath when they opened the show for the Fray at the Erwin Center early this year, and frankly was blown away by their stage show. I had hoped to catch their follow up set during this year's SXSW festival down at the Dirty Dog, though I couldn't imagine how they could possibly squeeze that show onto its tiny stage, but I missed it along with countless other bands I intended to see. I knew they'd be back, and hoped to catch them at one of the mid-sized venues before they broke big and couldn't play the smaller houses anymore. Luckily their tour routed them back through Austin one more time, and I got to catch them at one of my favorite venues, La Zona Rosa.
Continue reading "Concert Review: MuteMath at La Zona Rosa, Austin, TX"
Friday, May 11. 2007
Voxtrot at SXSW07
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Welcome to our new feature, Free Music Friday! Every Friday one of our editors will let you know where you can download music for free -- legally -- someplace on the web.
SXSW, Austin's super incredible buffet of bands, has hundreds of songs available to download for free on their web site. Bands and artists from Robyn Hitchcock and the Burden Brothers to Bloc Party and Brandi Carlile.You can start off with music from the 2007 SXSW by clicking here or you can jump in the wayback machine and download music from 2006 SXSW by clicking here or even 2005 by clicking here. Hundreds of bands, hundreds of songs, every genre imaginable, you can spend a whole weekend downloading free songs to your iPod and it won't cost you a cent.
If you know someplace people can download free legal music drop us a note!
Thursday, May 10. 2007
 Blues legend B.B. King and his guitar Lucille are sweeping though Central and Eastern Canada over the next nine days. With dates starting in Toronto, Ontario, and ending in Saint John, New Brunswick, the octogenarian (82 in September) will treat crowds to his unique brand of the blues.
B.B. King has been recording since 1947 and, with his immediately identifiable guitar and vocal style, is arguably one of the most influential blues musicians still alive today. He's also one of the hardest working. He is always, it seems, playing somewhere.
On a guitar oriented message board I visit, some users had this to say:
...the man was incredible i had tears in my eyes,his band smoked, very dynamic...it's a pity because he has to sit down when he plays but he gives 100 percent..this was the real deal....
There is no such thing as a bad BB show.
He is 100%+ the perfect entertainer - always has time for his audience and fans and he gives 110% in his shows. The sad part is that he (like Les Paul) isn't getting any younger - go see him before its too late.
Needless to say I was stoked when I saw that B.B. would be playing Toronto on May 11. I bought my ticket long before today, when I was assigned to cover the show for club.kingsnake. Me and B.B. tomorrow in Toronto!
The promoter has told me that there are still a few tickets available. Get them while you can....
Photos and more gushing to follow.....
Continue reading "Concert Preview: I can only hope to have that much energy.... B.B. King"
Elvis Perkins performing at ACL Fest 2006
photo by jeff barringer - staff photographer |
Austin City Limits Festival - ACL Fest
Hometown: Austin, Texas
http://www.aclfest.com
September 14-16, 2007
Zilker Park(Austin, Texas)
With little in the way of 2006 repeat artists, the ACL Fest 2007 list of bands was announced with Bob Dylan scheduled to close the set as the only major headliner, creating scowls amongst many Austin locals.
What else is new?
ACL Fest, always a good target for criticism among Austinites, still appears to entertain an enormous number of people, despite the dust, the parking nightmare, the lines for shuttle buses and food, and all the whining. Last year's ACL Fest was the second highest grossing music festival in the U.S., behind Bonaroo, and its shows no signs of stopping or slowing down this year.
This year's festival does seem to be geared towards the younger, "bloggier" set as well, with indie and blog favs such as Amy Winehouse, Dax Riggs, Arcade Fire, the White Stripes, the Killers and the Arctic Monkeys all scheduled to perform. Check out the list of artists below...
Continue reading "News: 2007 ACL Fest Lineup Announced"
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