PIGSHIT: “MACH SCHAU, PEEDLES!”

Posted on January 20, 2012 by Gary Pig Gold

Every Sixties recording artist seemed to have ‘em: There were the Beach Boys’ Hite Morgan tapes, the Stones’ IBC demos, the Byrds’ notorious Jet Set sessions, and even the Velvet Underground’s attempts at becoming East Coast studio stringers for Gary Lewis and the Playboys (…just kidding about that last one) (I think).

As a brand new collection called The Beatles with Tony Sheridan: First Recordings, 50th Anniversary Edition more than proves, even the almighty Fab Four were not immune to this pre-fame plague of skeletons-in-the-audio-closet. For you see, when not binging on Chuck Berry, Preludins and Schnaps in Hamburg’s red-light district throughout their, um, formative years, our heroes also served as in-studio back-up band to one of Britain’s then very biggest rock stars. Continue reading →

Biggest. Online. Protest. EVER.

Posted on January 17, 2012 by Mark Boudreau

Tomorrow, January 18th, 2012, will be the largest internet protest in history. Thousands of sites across the internet, including some of the biggest in the world, will be blacking out and directing people to contact Congress to kill the web censorship bill, SOPA and PIPA. And the Rock and Roll Report is getting involved. Continue reading →

Star Anna and the Laughing Dogs “Alone In This Together”

Posted on January 11, 2012 by Matheson Kamin

You only have to listen to the powerful voice of Star Anna one time to get sucked into her music. There is magic in that voice from the Washington State musician. With a sound that could easily remind you of the late Rock Hall Member Janis Joplin, Star Anna has that same strong character in her singing style that Joplin’s voice once had. It is that powerful voice and Star Anna’s ability to write strong songs that are the main reasons why the young singer-songwriter has finally been getting attention. Continue reading →

Matheson Kamin’s “Best Of” List for 2011

Posted on December 28, 2011 by Matheson Kamin

As amazing as it seems, we have reached the end of 2011. Now is the time to make our lists for the best releases from the last year. For me, this year’s list will be a little different than the previous years that I have created a list. This year’s list will have three parts:

Part One: Each year, there are those releases that catch your ear while taking hold and never letting go. The first 5 selections of this year’s list will make up the best 2011 albums that I wrote about throughout the year. These albums are the ones that found their way to my CD player and have yet to be put away because of how times I’ve gone back to listen to them.

Part Two: The second part of the list will include 5 additional releases. These particular selections will include explanations for their inclusion when they are mentioned.

Part Three: The third part of the list for this year will include the five best songs I have heard in 2011. These particular songs helped make 2011 what it was for me, musically.

Continue reading →

Show Review: Bat Sabbath @ Les Foufounes Electriques, Montreal

Posted on December 22, 2011 by Barbara Pavone

In the case of some music fans, the word ‘cover’ may elicit any one of a number of negative reactions. Well, it’s time to change all that.

If you fall into this category (and you know who you are) let me assuredly tell you that Bat Sabbath has the power to change your mind and make you a believer in the magic of covers. If you don’t fall into the above-mentioned category, let me still tell you that Bat Sabbath can make you a believer in the magic of covers. Continue reading →

In Concert: Lower 13

Posted on December 19, 2011 by Matheson Kamin

The Cleveland Music Festival just finished up for 2011. During the festival sixty-five Rock and/or Heavy Metal bands were given the chance to perform for the festivalgoers in attendance. It was during the festival that I was able to check out a band that I was actually going to be writing about. That band was Lower 13.

Lower 13 is a Heavy Metal band that makes its home in Parma, Ohio (a suburb of Cleveland). The band is made up of Patrick Capretta on guitar/vocals, Sean Balog on bass/vocals and Eric Kruger on drums. This trio of young musicians creates a heavy metal sound that is in the classic style of bands like Metallica (no Rap-Metal here). It is this classic Heavy Metal style that helped push Lower 13 into the final rounds of the High School Rock-Off here in Greater Cleveland several times, so it seems that their music really does register with
people who hear it. That was very apparent on Saturday Night’s performance
during the 2011 Cleveland Music Festival.

Continue reading →

PIGSHIT: The small machine that could

Posted on December 16, 2011 by Gary Pig Gold

For all intents and purposes, Lindsey Adams Buckingham has lived a charmed life.

Raised in the comfy Bay Area opulence of 1950′s Atherton, California, a handsome, athletic golden boy suddenly and forever sidetracked by his elder brother’s Elvis and Buddy Holly 45s. He quit the school water polo team, moved with his guitar into a local hotshot band called Fritz, left for L.A. with their singer Stevie, produced with her the magnificently understated Buckingham Nicks album, was soonafter asked to join Fleetwood Mac with whom he helped craft a 40-million-plus-selling album called Rumours and, by 1978 at the age of twenty-nine finally found himself at the very tip-top of his game.

For all intents and purposes, that is. Continue reading →

Rock and Roll Report Radio Celebrates Mock Rock On December 19th!

Posted on December 15, 2011 by Mark Boudreau

If Christmas has got you down this should put a smile on your face! The next edition of Rock and Roll Report Radio on the Drastick Plastic Program celebrates Mock Rock and I guarantee that you will both smile and rock out in good measure.

What is Mock Rock you ask? Tune in December 19th at 10:00 PM EST either online at www.ckut.ca or in the Montreal area on 90.3 FM and you will find out!

Cheers!

CD Review: Bill Toms “Memphis”

Posted on December 9, 2011 by Matheson Kamin

During his time as a musician, Bill Toms experienced a lot, including working with the one and only Bruce Springsteen. It was “The Boss” who helped produce an album for Toms’ former band, The Houserockers. As a solo artist, Bill Toms has been making a name for himself, thanks in part to his 2010 album, Live at Moondogs: Another Moonlight Mystery.

Bill Toms recently travelled from his home in Pittsburgh to Nashville to put the finishing touches on a new release. That album, 2011’s Memphis, is a solid effort and is varied enough to keep the listener anticipating the next track thanks to the creative energy that flows through the tracks that make up the album. Continue reading →

CD Review: The Jezabels “Prisoner”

Posted on December 8, 2011 by Nicole White

Coasting on a wave of recent success and with an EP trilogy under their belt, The Jezabels have continued carving their path in good fashion and, in this case, it’s with their debut album titled Prisoner.

On the heels of receiving a swagger of award nominations, cracking the US charts with their single ‘Hurt Me’ off of their third EP release entitled Dark Storm, which in itself reached number one on the iTunes charts, The Jezabels have certainly set the bar high for themselves. Continue reading →

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The Rock and Roll Report is a place to go when you are tired of the same music played over and over on commercial rock radio. Playing great rock and roll from indie and unsigned bands.