The Rock and Roll Report Band of the Week is Sore On Sunday

(As we continue our look back at some previous Bands of the Week this one is from November 17, 2008)

Da Yooper’s Can Rock

Sore On Sunday was originally a weekend bar band that started playing shows together in 2006. Soon the boys grew tired of their bar band reputation and lead vocalist, Tyler Henderson, suggested they begin to write and produce their own music. SOS’s first single, Loser, was immediately snatched up by local radio stations and really introduced the band to a greater fan base. Read the story »

PIGSHIT by Gary Pig Gold – VERA RAMONE and her POISONED HEART Part Two

Although I first met America’s last great rock and roll band when they hit Toronto – literally! – in the Summer of 1977, it took Vera Ramone’s grand new book “Poisoned Heart” to truly bring me back to both her, and my, gabba gabba heydays.

Yes, in those supposedly dark ages before the Internets and/or Pro Tools, it really was possible to change the world with just three chords and a full tank of gas: Over the course of twenty-two years, the Ramones performed two thousand, two hundred and sixty three concerts. I wish I could have been at every one of them.

As we pick up where we left off last Friday, Vera and Dee Dee Ramone have just made it legal, and along with Joey, Johnny, and Marky are headed towards the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame, the silver screen, AND Phil Spector’s recording studio…..

As you married Dee Dee in September of 1978, the Ramones were just entering what can now be seen as the peak of their initial success. They were recording their classic work, touring North America and Europe on a regular basis, and were about to star in the film “Rock ‘n’ Roll High School.” In fact, you joined the band on the road whenever possible during those years, correct?

I basically quit my day job, and we traveled everywhere together.

It’s hard to be on the road without your loved ones, and the rest of the Ramones also brought along their girlfriends, and later wives. They functioned better with their significant others, and could stay out on the road for longer periods of time. It just became a way of life for us.

Then we would return after sometimes two or three months, and it felt strange to be at home. There was NO routine. We saw our families, friends and did this and that, and after a couple of weeks it was like “OK!” and we’d go back out again!

We were young and could do it. We didn’t really know any different.

Read the story »

Postcards From France: Gérard Reviews BUBBLEGUM – Where is Matthew Smith? (Rock Indiana Records 2008)

J’ai failli passer à côté de cet album so rti il y a quelque mois en Espagne. Et cela aurait été bien dommage compte tenu de la qualité des 10 titres proposés. 2e opus de ce quatuor d’Oviedo et déjà pour moi l’un des meilleurs albums de power pop de 2008 haut la main!!! pas une seule baisse de niveau, pas un seul titre faible ou meme moyen, de la power pop de très haut niveau, digne des meilleurs albums de DM3 par exemple. Des mélodies entetantes, des guitares brillantes, une rythmique souple et légère, bref je ne sais que dire pour vous inciter à commander cet album indispensable. N’empeche je ne sais toujours pas ou est M Smith!!!

http://www.myspace.com/bubblegumthepunk

I almost missed out on this album which was released a few months ago in Spain which is a shame given the quality of the ten tracks. This is the second album of this quartet from Oviedo and for me already one of the best power pop albums of 2008 with flying colors! Not only are there no sub-par tracks, but not a single song falters. This is power pop of a very high level, worthy of the best albums of DM3 for example. Excellent melodies, brilliant guitars, a rhythm guitar sound that is flexible and light, all I can say to you is to order this album as it is essential. But I still do not know who is Mr Smith!