VIDEO: Rock and Roll Report TV featuring Erick Macek http://tmogul.com/tweet/qVHa0
Monthly Archives: April 2010
Pigshit by Gary Pig Gold: ZAPPA’S LIST
Long before the Valley Girls, Jewish princesses, mud sharks, dental floss, yellow snow and, tragically, the cancer which claimed him in 1993, there was simply Francis Vincent Zappa, a young kid with an above-eclectic record collection who escaped the confines of Lancaster, California to arrive in Hollywood with his “rockin’ teen combo” The Mothers of Invention in 1965. His career on stage and disc thereafter caused countless unsuspecting youngsters such as myself to immediately set aside their Monkees albums in order that we could join our newest mentor upon this most adventurous of all, as it turns out, musical paths.
But exactly how did this seemingly unassuming composer/guitarist with a penchant for sinister footwear become one of the most musically and socially iconoclastic participants of the 1960s; an era seemingly awash in just such creatures? A fascinating new documentary from Sexy Intellectual, Frank Zappa: The Freak-Out List, uses the 179 names listed within the original 1966 issue of the Mothers’ debut album Freak Out! as a guide to explaining, well, why the music therein sounded the way it did.
As in, sounded like NOTHING ELSE released that year …or ever since, for that matter.
Special Ops Kick Off North American ‘Through the Heart of the Infidel’ Tour
Special Ops Invade “Through The Heart of The Infidel” Canada & US Tour Dates Presented by RockstarWeekly.com
Having just released their third studio album “Through The Heart of The Infidel” via Vancouver label Thorny Bleeder Records (digitally April 27th and CD in stores on May 25th), Montreal rockers Special Ops are proud to announce their “Through the Heart of the Infidel Tour” presented by RockstarWeekly.com. The tour will kick off in Toronto on April 28th and see the infantry invade Canada and the US in support of this latest release. Continue reading
CD Review: Lactis Fever “The Season We Met”
Lactis Fever - The Season We Met
Lactis Fever is indie-pop trio from Como, Italy. They’ve just recorded their full-length debut record, “The Season We Met”, and it is a whopper that modern pop rock fans won’t want to miss.
Lactis Fever is brilliant – I like everything about them. Bright and energetic rock, vocals that have a punk attitude but retain pop sensibilities, and keenly written melodies and harmonies throughout – what’s not to love? The songs are terse and succinct, yet make an impression that lasts long after the three minutes is up. My only criticism is minor: the guitars are sometimes too muddled and dark for this otherwise upbeat pop rock. Outside of that, “The Season We Met” is one hell of a ride.
Lactis Fever is like a cross between Fall Out Boy and The Killers, and many of the harmonies remind me of the best things about 80s rock. This band should attract plenty of fans with varied tastes in music across the board – they are of a rare breed of acts that can please just about everyone. Given how terrific it is, it is hard to believe that “The Season We Met” is a debut record! There is not a single dud on the release, but some of the tracks I like best include “Down On My Knees”, “Be Tray You”, and “Friday 16th”.
iPOD-worthy: 1, 2, 4, 5, 6, 8
Lactis Fever on MySpace. Official site.
Wig Wam frontman talks pre-show rituals, Norway, Non Stop Rock n’ Roll and, yes, Gene Simmons’ ability to sell horseshit
If you’re a fan of glam rock and if the likes of KISS, Alice Cooper, Van Halen and Thin Lizzy fill your CD player (um, I mean mp3 player), but you’re not familiar with Wig Wam then, let me be the first to tell you, you’ve been missing out – big time.
When Glam (vocals), Teeny (guitar), Sporty (drums) and Flash (bass) got together to jam in 2000, it wasn’t long before they turned their just-for-fun endeavor into a full-fledged glam rock revival extravaganza i.e. Wig Wam. The band hit the studio, dug out all the leather and spandex they could find, and set out on the road to conquer Europe and, seemingly appropriate, Japan.
Having just released their fourth in-studio album entitled Non Stop Rock n’ Roll, frontman Glam took some time to catch up with The Rock and Roll Report and give some honest, and witty, insights into everything from the disappointing state of Norway’s music scene, to the futility of drugs, to Gene Simmons’ potential ability to sell horseshit (and who could disagree with that?!) Continue reading
Straight Outta Cleveland CD Review: This Moment In Black History “Public Square”
Living in a city as large as Cleveland, Ohio, there are many bands that I have yet to discover for myself. While other people may already have known everything that the band has released, I may be discovering the magic of their music for the first time. It is that first hint at a band that is as good as being the first person to hear the band’s music. One band that I just found for myself is Cleveland’s own This Moment In Black History.
This Moment In Black History is a quartet that is integrated, made up of musicians that are of several different races. It is this mix of backgrounds that help to create a style of rock music that is not stuck in one frame of mind. The quartet of musicians came together as a band after other projects went their separate ways. Combining forces to create this band, the members consist of: vocalist Chris Kulcsar, guitarist Buddy Akita, bassist Lawrence Caswell, and Bim Thomas.
Together, the band creates a sound that draws as much from early rock and punk bands like The Kinks and The Ramones, and bands like Devo, who created their own feel to the music, as it draws from jazz and other music genres. This Moment In Black History blends these elements together to create a style that is mostly punk, sure, but it is so much more than that.
“KISS on a Stick”
From masks to action figures, to comics, to toilet paper: KISS have offered fans just about everything under the sun, but they’ve never offered “KISS on a stick” – until now.
“KISS, one of the biggest rock bands in the world have confirmed that their entire European tour will be released on USB stick and as MP3 download.
The UK leg of KISS’ “Sonic Boom Over Europe Tour” starts at the Sheffield Arena on May 1st. Fans who attend any of the concerts will be able to purchase the entire 2 ½ hours of live entertainment on USB stick at the merchandise stand directly after the show. Alternatively, fans will also be able to pre-order the concert on USB stick or as MP3 download in advance via the simfylive.com website - http://simfylive.com/kiss.
Continue reading
CD Review: Third Bullet – Revelations
This is a phenomenal debut album from this band based in Birmingham UK.
The band members are James Harbridge on vocals and guitar, Stephen Busby on bass and vocals and Matthew Challoner on the drums and vocals/shouting. These three guys combined make an explosive cocktail of hard edged bad assed rock’n’roll that is delivered like an airstrike. You could say that this band have been endorsed by Harley Davidson, check this link
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=E2ZJNKadGS0
Third Bullet are yet another band that confirms my belief and love of independent and unsigned music. They have a style that resembles nothing more than themselves, truly incomparable and completely addictive.
Third Bullet Revelations pic here
Rock Hill Studios: A musical gem in Keynsham, UK
Rock Hill Studios is a brand new venture that has only just been set up and opened in the UK by established guitar builder, Nathan Sheppard. Based in between Bath and Bristol, Keynsham to be exact, the establishment is comprised of a guitar building workshop, a reception/sales/booking area, one rehearsal room (with another soon to follow) and, once fully built, recording facilities will also be available.
Located in a tranquil and easily accessible part of Keynsham, the studio offers a very comfortable, relaxed atmosphere that is greatly the result of Nathan’s helpful and welcoming nature.
As mentioned, Nathan is a guitar builder and so, a studio was only a logical next step. Having recently attended the grand opening of Rock Hill Studios, I was privileged to see some Nathan Sheppard guitars in action and I must say that they sounded oh so sweet, with looks and quality that could rival those of any guitar on the market. Continue reading
VIDEO: Rock and Roll Report TV…
VIDEO: Rock and Roll Report TV featuring Jacob Bunton http://tmogul.com/tweet/I2iqO
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