A band that I was very briefly introduced to in the early 03/04 was American rockers V Shape Mind. Even though they went out as quickly as they came in, the Illinois four piece group produced one hell of a record that seems to encompass hard rock, nu-metal, groove, aggression and melody. They also managed all this into one record without falling into the [then] over saturated genre of nu-metal.
V Shape Mind consisted of:
Brad Hursh – vocals, guitar | Jeff McElyea – guitar, piano
V Shape Mind was formed in 1999 and toured the local Illinois metal scene, during which they self-released an EP titled Metric in 2000. The band was discovered by renowned producer David Bottrill, who got them signed to Universal Records.
The band released their debut album, Cul-De-Sac, on September 9, 2003. The single "Monsters" features vocals from Mudvayne's Chad Gray and received considerable radio play. Despite touring with such acts as Mudvayne and Powerman 5000, V Shape Mind struggled to gather any mainstream attention. Consequently, they have since broken up, pointing to difficulties with Universal Records as the key factor. They played their final show together on Thursday, May 6, 2004 at Lincoln Square Theater in their hometown of Decatur, Illinois. (band bio)
1. Antithesis of Origami 2. Glitches 3. Monsters 4. Dangle 5. The Taste of Vinegar 6. Totally Different Head 7. Peel the Rind 8. Gravity 9. Brakecheck 10. Chameleon Wars 11. That Cool Refreshing Drink 12. Every Little Thing (E.L.T.) [Hidden Track]
Not much to be said about the guys since they already announced their breakup as I was just getting into them. Lead singer Hursh has led a minor solo career since the breakup of the band, but little to no information is available about this band or the solo career. Vic and Brad have also formed a new project called LOVE & VENGEANCE which is in the process recording their first EP. I was a big fan of "Monsters" since Gray is one of my top admired vocalists, my band members (at the time) were also big into Mudvayne and any affiliations.
To be honest, I feel that Gray's contribution to the album was one of the main reasons why this band saw any radio play at all. The label didn't push them enough, they didn't tour as much as they should for a debut record, and the band should have continued to pursue an independent release with the ongoing evolution of the internet. The combination of those faults could easily explain why some of you are sitting there wondering "wait, who are these guys again?" At first listen, I was in the same boat. After second listen, I was hooked!
The latest opus will do nothing but place them on a very exclusive pedistol. The album titled "Cul-De-Sac" exposes the bands self proclaimed "heavy-mellow" sound. The twelve gripping tracks comsume you from the get-go. It's a definite epic, prog-metal style. You can feel Bottrill's touch all over this baby. The first single "Monster" features KUD of Mydvayne fame assisting on vocal duties. To be quite honest, it sounds like KUD sings every track on the album...but I really can't complain, since I love his knack for Tool-ish melodic harmonies and spine tingling wails. -Decoy Music
So many so good bands simply disappear. This is for the memory. -1RockOko (YouTube User)
OK, so a quick jaunt here as I am still reading this. Apparently Cornell University has come up with a formula for "Motion of Moshers". The opening piece of the article explains it better than I could attempt to do right now...
Human collective behavior can vary from calm to panicked depending on social context. Using videos publicly available online, we study the highly energized collective motion of attendees at heavy metal concerts. We find these extreme social gatherings generate similarly extreme behaviors: a disordered gas-like state called a mosh pit and an ordered vortex-like state called a circle pit. Both phenomena are reproduced in flocking simulations demonstrating that human collective behavior is consistent with the predictions of simplified models.
Like most observers of concerts and mosh pits, Jesse L. Silverberg, Matthew Bierbaum, James P. Sethna, and Itai Cohen have combined the decibel levels, the beats per minute, the crowd capacity, the (potential intoxication) and lighting to form a comprehensive idea behind why people mosh. They even compared a mosh pit to other forms of collision that they see daily in science experiments, citing "Qualitatively, this phenomenon resembles the kinetics of gaseous particles, even though moshers are self-propelled agents that experience dissipative collisions."
Seems pretty simple right? Well, here is the formula they created, along with a little bit of a breakdown for the equation:
You can read the rest of the publication (in PDF format) here. Want to see a simulation of a moshpit and it's outcome? Click here to check it out!
So a lot of buzz was surrounding Fear Factory and their 2012 release of "The Industrialist". Burton and Dino out a lot of effort into the album and it paid off with Fear Factory being the talk of the industry last summer. Well, I know not all of your forgot about City of Fire, but I sure as hell lost track of their sophomore album titled "Trial Through Fire". The five piece Vancouver based group is back at it after months of delay.
City of Fire consists of:
Burton C. Bell - Vocals | Byron Stroud - Bass | Ian White - Guitar
Sho Murray - Guitar | Bob Wagner - Drums
In an ideal world, we would release the CITY OF FIRE CD late summer, building the band through the rest of 2012, and have the band on the road in 2013 when Burton’s commitment to Fear Factory touring is complete. At this time, that timeline is still unknown.
Once again, we cannot thank you more for your time, and support with this band and project. Each of you did a HUGE part in spreading the word on this new project and you all seem to be as excited as we are.
We also thank you for your time and patience with us. Our challenges have been both business and personal – some small, some big – but our fans and family have been beside us and supportive and we couldn’t ask for anything more.
Thanks again.
Bob, Burton, Byron and Terry"
So we lucked out and finally got a glimpse of the new album artwork and the track listing, along with the already established music video for "Bad Motivator":
1. Deliver Me 2. Follow Mantis 3. Bad Motivator 4. Prometheus Unbound 5. Olympus Mons 6. Oceanaut 7. Dichotomy Blues 8. Made Of Stars 9. Steps To Redemption 10. Enjoy The Silence
"As I was a Roadrunner employee up until recently, I had to lay silent about my involvement with the band. Now that I was a part of the cut backs at RR, I am able to say I am overseeing this project. For several reasons this has been delayed. Greg Reely who mixed COF also mixed Fear Factory. Therefore a delay in the master. Other things, politically and personally, have delayed this project and we apologize. Once we have distribution confirmed and in place we will be looking at getting the music out to everyone! Thank you in advance for your help and support.
Regards, Rose Slanic"
Since the album has been delayed time and time again, we already have a music video for "Bad Motivator" which was released right after their album funding campaign finished up. Enjoy!
"Trial Through Fire" has officially been released and is available for purchase on their official store site.
TesseracT's forthcoming album has been confirmed with a titled of "Altered State". The sophomore full length album is due in stores on May 27th, 2013 (Europe) and May 28th, 2013 (North America) via Century Media Records.
"The new album has shaped up to be something of an evolution for TESSERACT. Obviously, there's the new voice, which is exciting for us to work with. Ashe brings such an intense level of emotion to the table, it feels as if we have added another dimension to the music. We've also travelled so much and met so many incredible and inspiring musicians since the first album. This has had a huge impact upon our songwriting.
Also, we now enjoy playing with dynamics and instrumentation. This came from releasing an acoustic EP last year. We're no longer afraid to mix things up or stray from the expected path, which we feel we did with our first album. That was in the box, whilst this album is way out there for us. Don't be afraid, though — whilst it has evolved, our music is still somehow TESSERACT. It's like there is something just beneath the surface of everything we do, that shapes all we produce into a distinctly TESSERACT-ish form."-Amos Williams
So what's so interesting about the album to start talking about it already? Apparently it will be similar to "Concealing Fate" where the entire album with be one giant song, split into four parts (Of Matter, Of Mind, Of Reality, Of Energy)! Seems pretty cool right? I guess that's something to be said about a group who can collectively make an entire album out of a concept. That's what drew me into TesseracT in the first place was the focus of the album as a whole versus various songs. Sure most bands will tell you that their albums are great from start to finish, but who among us can say they been impressed with every single song of their favourite band?
Sure Rammstein can be considered one of my all time favourites, but there are highs and lows of an album; putting more focus on individual songs. TesseracT have (now twice) designed an album where you are encouraged to listen to it as a whole and make conclusions, as well as find the similarities between songs to give it an overall flow feeling.
Here is what TesseracT has announced for a track listing:
1. Of Matter – Proxy 2. Of Matter – Retrospect 3. Of Matter – Resist 4. Of Mind – Nocturne 5. Of Mind – Exile 6. Of Reality – Eclipse 7. Of Reality – Palingenisis 8. Of Reality – Calabi-Yau 9. Of Energy – Singularity 10. Of Energy – Embers
OK, so a 51 minute animated music video now to accompany the album? Well, apparently that's what TeseeracT are doing for this upcoming release. The news came from the band's official Twitter page:
So now I have an extra reason to get excited about this album. The band has done a great job in the past with their music video designs, as well as the 6 piece session they took from Sphere Studios. Either way, very excited for the band to take on a new challenge and of course push the boundaries of creativity.
“The concept behind the presentation of Altered State is very simple. It is about change, and how life is change. We have been through a very difficult period of time over the last few years. It is a miracle that the band has survived. I feel it is the ability to step back and see everything for what it is (hence the Perspective EP) that has allowed us to get on with life and try to enjoy it. Reality is change.” -TesseracT
So here we are with the great commercial success of HOG&B part one. It had some great hits, some rocking riffs and made for a notable release of 2012. Well, as luck would have it that part two from Stone Sour is scheduled to be released on April 8th, 2013, in the UK and April 9th, in the United States, via Roadrunner Records. Couldn't be happier with the news and the new single to boot!
"The great thing about part two is that it really ties it all together. We just listened to the master mixes, and oh my God! It's darker. It's heavier. It's much more in tune with the narrative. It's much more complex. It's just a kick-ass album that people won't even know to expect. The difference between the two is that part one just feels like a great album, whereas part two, honestly, feels like a great movie soundtrack. It moves the story more than part one does. But when you put one and two together and listen to it top to bottom, it's fantastic. It really all comes together, and we're excited about it." -Taylor
The first single "Do Me a Favour" was released via the band's YouTube page:
RR: Are there any riffs or melodies from Part 1 that reappear on Part 2, to tie things together?
JR: Yeah, there are. There’s a couple of themes. The bridge for “Absolute Zero” will reappear on Part 2 as a pre-chorus to one of the songs, and then there’s a couple of melody themes that go in and out on Part 2 that are on Part 1.
Read the full interview with guitarist Josh Rand here. You can also check out the album artwork and track listing for the upcoming release. The artwork itself is an interesting concept that co-insides with part one, but also distinctive enough to stand alone as part two.
1. Red City 2. Black John 3. Sadist 4. Peckinpah 5. Stalemate 6. Gravesend 7. '82 8. The Uncanny Valley 9. Blue Smoke 10. Do Me a Favor 11. The Conflagration 12. The House of Gold & Bones
"Part 2 is much darker, if I’m honest. Aside from it being a completely different album, it feels more like a soundtrack to a movie in a lot of ways man. It’s really thematic, there are themes from part 1 that reveal themselves and that come again musically, there’s actually stuff from Part 2 that you’ll hear that’s on part 1 and you’ll be like 'Fucking hell!' We essentially recorded these, and this is where technology is now, that so you could have these in a playlist on your iTunes and play them top to fucking bottom and really get that experience while you read both parts.
So it’s some of our darkest music, our most intricate and complex music, some of the best fucking lyrics I’ve ever written to be honest, even writing from a narrative like that, it was so challenging. Plus, it’s got some of our best songs on it. You guys think Part 1's good, fuck off, ‘Do Me A Favour’ alone is going to kick the shit out of people and that’s going to be the first single which comes out in January, that’s going to be the first taste that people get of Part 2, and people aren’t going to know what to do." -Taylor
Want to see something really cool about the album(s)?
“Oh BTW: yes, the 2 albums combine to create a house. You need pt 1 & 2, but the cases can be put together to make the House of Gold & Bones.” -Corey Taylor
More info as it comes in folks! You can also check out my previous article surrounding part one:
DEVICE. A name in the hard rock/metal industry buzzing for some time now. Consisting of notable musician David Draiman (Disturbed), Virus (Dope), Will Hunt (Evanescence, Dark New Day) and guitarist Geno Lenardo (ex-Filter), their self-titled debut album is set to hit shelves on April 9th, 2013 via Warner Bros. Records.
The first single "Vilify" will be hitting airwaves on February 19th, 2013. A music video is already in the works for said single. Here is the finished product:
Track listing for the debut album is as follows:
1. You Think You Know 2. Penance 3. Vilify 4. Close My Eyes Forever (Ozzy Osbourne & Lita Ford cover) (feat. Lzzy Hale) 5. Out Of Line (feat. Serj Tankian, Geezer Butler) 6. Hunted 7. Opnion (feat. Tom Morello) 8. War Of Lies 9. Haze (feat. M. Shadows) 10. Through It All (feat. Glenn Hughes)
A deluxe edition of Device‘s self-titled debut album will come with two bonus tracks; one being a cover of Nine Inch Nails‘ “Wish“, and the other being a b-side titled “A Part Of Me“.
"It started to develop very naturally and organically. Geno is a brilliant songwriter in his own right and a tremendously talented sound designer as far as the electronic palette is concerned. Together, we made this monster. It's not metal. It's got a dark electronic vibe. At the same time, these are big, anthemic, and intensely melodic songs. It's futuristic rock." -Draiman
On "Out of Line," Black Sabbath bassist Geezer Butler conjures a staggering bass groove, while System of a Down vocalist Serj Tankian trades vibrant and visceral vocal melodies with the singer. "Tom Morello's guitar wizardry," as Draiman puts it, casts a spell over "Opinion," and Avenged Sevenfold frontman M. Shadows dives into the shadowy "Haze" as his inimitable wail resounds. Iconic Deep Purple voice Glenn Hughes also makes a cameo on the record's haunting and hypnotic finale "Through It All"-a love letter to Draiman's wife. Meanwhile, Halestorm's Lzzy Hale teams up with Device for an epic cover of the Ozzy Osbourne and Lita Ford classic, "Close My Eyes Forever," which allows both of their voices to reach heavenly heights.
"It has all of the elements that identify this body of work and band. It's an excellent introduction to what Device is. From a lyrical standpoint, it talks about how some people love to make me out to be a horrible guy. They (the haters) brand me as an evil egomaniac with a chip on his shoulder, but that's not who I am. I'm a pretty easy-going, mild mannered guy, and I'm also a very strong-willed and outspoken individual. I'm very passionate about what I believe, and I don't apologize for standing behind those beliefs." -Draiman
More info as it comes in folks. Stay tuned!
MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, MY BLOOD;
I JUST WANTED TO TAKE A MOMENT TO THANK ALL OF YOU FOR COMING WITH ME ON THIS NEW JOURNEY THAT IS "DEVICE".
I AM ETERNALLY GRATEFUL FOR THE LOVE THAT YOU ALL HAVE FOR DISTURBED, AND I ALSO UNDERSTAND THE DEFENSIVENESS THAT CAN COME WITH ANY THING THAT COULD POTENTIALLY BE PERCIEVED AS A CATALYST TO SOME SORT OF "BREAK UP THEORY", THAT I ASSURE YOU, HAS NO BASE IN THE FIRST PLACE.
IF YOU READ THE DEVICE BIO THAT WAS POSTED ON THE DEVICE FACEBOOK PAGE FACEBOOK/DEVICETHEBAND, YOU WILL LEARN THAT THE WHOLE PROJECT CAME TOGETHER QUITE ACCIDENTALLY, AND I'M VERY GLAD IT DID. I THINK YOU WILL BE TOO.
DISTURBED IS STILL ON HIATUS. A HIATUS IS AN EXTENDED BREAK, NOT "BREAK-UP". WE HAVE FOUGHT LONG AND HARD TOGETHER, ALL OF US, TO MAKE DISTURBED WHAT IT HAS BECOME, AND ARE NOT JUST WALKING AWAY FROM IT. WE ALL NEEDED TO JUST GIVE OURSELVES SOME TIME AWAY FROM IT.
THE EXISTENCE OF DEVICE, DOES NOT IN ANY WAY SHAPE OR FORM, MEAN THE END OF DISTURBED. THEY ARE TWO COMPLETELY SEPARATE ENTITIES, AND I HOLD THEM BOTH IN THE HIGHEST REGARD.
YOU ARE ABOUT TO GET YOUR FIRST TASTE THIS COMING WEEK.
So I am a little disappointed this week with the releases. Not the quality mind you (because these all have great , but the lack of diversity. I am sure one could argue it's my own doing by not expanding my music collection to represent ALL the music releases. But frankly, you can get that info from many other sites. I am here to talk about the AFGM recommendations for this week's music releases. If you feel that I have missed something or want to share some of your own weekly highlights then by all means get in touch!
So anyways, let's keep it short and sweet. Make your way to your local record shop or online retailer to pick up some of this week's great releases
(*Re-issue)
When it comes right down to it, Dead Set On Living feels distinctly more like hardcore punk this time around, more along the lines of something like Comeback Kid interspersed with a bunch of southern-fried stoner riffs. This may come as a disappointment to some, but worry not, a fair exchange has been made! A simpler approach makes for what is probably Cancer Bats most aggressive album to date. The type of album that will leave you gnawing on half your keyboard whilst using some form of instantaneous osmosis to insert the other half into your skull. -Metal Storm
Bullet for My Valentine are clicking on all cylinders on their new album, though the band readily admits the title ‘Temper Temper’ comes from some of the internal friction within the group. But rather than letting things fester, they turned lemons into lemonade by allowing it fuel the creative process. -Loudwire
‘Dead Mans Shoes’ is supported by other very strong songs. ‘Bang Bang Bang’ is a brilliant song which was an iTunes single of the week in both the UK and the US in 2012. This is the type of song you hear during a montage at the start of an episode of CSI or during that party scene before the murder that seems to grace every episode.
Add in a few more classic sounding songs like ‘Running For My Life’, ‘Just a Ride’ and ‘My Little Girl’ and you have one hell of an album. The Virginmarys really hit the ground running here and are definitely a band to keep an eye and an ear on in the near future. -The Daily Shift
The musicians are absolutely more skilled than the average blues-rock band and the bass and guitar shine the brightest when they are playing single-note scale lines together an octave apart. The most surprising track is the title track S.U.N., a seven-minute number full of vocal harmonies that may or may not be difficult to re-create in a live setting. -Screamer Magazine
These songs are definitely a nice collection of some really catchy songs that you want to hear. They could all live very comfortably across radio airwaves. Many of the songs, unfortunately, have a déjà vu effect in which you say to yourself, “Hey! I’ve heard this before. I love this song.” They all have that magical effect, regardless if you’ve heard them in the past or not. So, yes it’s good, but it is also somewhat common feeling. -Rock Revolt Magazine
If there is one thing that I enjoy most about music and about shows is creativity. I know that a fair amount of the shows I attend do not have much more than some amps, a few small lights and a bunch of guys and gals jumping on stage to the beat of their tracks. I do my best to take it for what it is and just focus on the music, but at what point is it worth my bang for buck? I remember hearing at some point in my life that musicians should not only focus on their music, but their image and performance, none above the other. While that seems to take away from the essence of the music, I feel it plays a vital role in how we view artists and why we pay large quantities of cash to see them in concert.
You get both sides of the spectrum on a daily basis. You get metal, rock and blues musicians (among other genres as well) who are all about their music. They give no shit for their image or if they have any fancy lights on stage to entertain you with. Then we have a large portion of the hip-hop/pop industry where fashion is everything. We are quick to judge what outfit these artists are wearing versus the lyrical content, music structure and performance as a whole. Finding the middle ground (I guess) is my myth I am always on the lookout for.
So not that all of you will be interested in the club scene or even have a shred of interest to step foot in a club. Why would you?
- You wait in a never ending line at which a bouncer can ultimately decide whether or not to let you in, pending on his mood, taste and bias.
- Then when you get to the front of the line, you have to pay ridiculous cover charges to even set foot in the club.
- After which you have to whip out that stack of cash to pay top dollar for drinks that normally cost you 1/10th of the price in the store. If you got a female on your arm, that's now double.
- You got an wayyyy over packed room full of drunk people bumping into each other, spilling drinks and starting fights over something so minuscule. I'm sure fire departments wouldn't be able to hand out fines fast enough if they made weekly visits to these big clubs.
- You have music that is way beyond the level of conversation music, an eventually lose your voice from attempting to talk to the people you are with.
- Washrooms that are usually filled with piss on the floor, missing rolls of TP, sinks that are either clogged or broken, and if you're lucky, a few lines of coke in the bathroom stall.
- If someone becomes increasingly aggressive towards you and you attempt to defend yourself or even continuing to converse with same, the bouncers care nothing of you and will see you out the door just as fast as the aggressive counterpart.
Seems like fun doesn't it? It's not that bad every time but being around the club scene in Toronto long enough you start to see a correlation. Sometimes the clubs (if managed properly) can have some of the best times and parties. Some good times shared indeed, so not trying to knock everything about the club scene, cause some people consider these places their homes. Why though, I have no idea. haha
So enough of my rant about clubs and back on topic about this innovative idea. I never thought I would see a project with the amount of creativity they are putting into... a nightclub? Legendary acrobat company Cirque du Soleil and the City of Las Vegas have teamed up with notable DJ's such as Skrillex, Zedd, Alesso and Baauer to create one of the most sophisticated and new age clubs the city has yet to experience. Set to open on April 26th (3950 Las Vegas Blvd. South, Las Vegas, Nevada, 89119), there is a lot of effort and preparation going into this.
Not that I am still a massive fan of clubs or that this would win me over, but I would at least like the opportunity to experience what will set this club aside from all other clubs on the strip. I have no doubt that Guy Laliberté and the designers at Cirque will outperform (or at least attempt to) most of the competition in the nearby area, which means some tough times ahead to try and get in. At least for the first little bit till the "wow" wears off.
"The LIGHT Skrillex show is gonna be only in Vegas. I want it be distinct to the LIGHT club because the configuration is so customizable, it's fucking crazy. That's the thing about the club, too: they can do anything, so it's how you maximize the dynamic of a great show with all their fucking bells and whistles and all of their budgets and resources to do anything." -Skrillex
From what I am seeing through the artist concepts and the video to go along with it, I am thinking that my senses would be going into overload upon entering the club. The sound is always the heart of my discussion in AFGM, but the visuals that go along with the club will be impressive enough on it's own, considering the modern day technology that lighting and sound companies get access to.
"The cool thing is, Zedd's show is gonna be different than mine; Alesso's show is gonna be different than Baauer's. I'm getting in with these guys on a personal level; we're designing something that fits the club – and that's what's cool about LIGHT, too. Every show is gonna feel like a whole different experience." -Skrillex
Did anyone else get the chance to watch the trailer for a new HBO bio pic about the widely known Phil Spector? Considered to be a major player in the music industry from early 1960's and onward, Spector worked with artists including Ike and Tina Turner, John Lennon, George Harrison, and the Ramones.
He also co-wrote "You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin" with Barry Mann and Cynthia Weil, which is rated by BMI as "the song with the most U.S. airplay in the 20th century". You can read the full BMI article here. Spector was also responsible for his trademark "Wall of Sound", in which he
For a little more background info, Spector co-produced the Beatles' final album, "Let It Be," and worked with ex-Beatles George Harrison and John Lennon on solo projects after the group broke up. His recording of Harrison's 1971 benefit concert for war relief in Bangladesh won the 1972 Grammy award for album of the year.(via CNN)
The film itself revolves around a controversial part of Spector's life where he was being tried for murder in the first degree for the death of actress Lana Clarkson (he received his his 19 years-life sentence in 2009). And who is playing the role of Spector? None other than Mr. Al Pacino!
Written and directed by David Mamet, PHIL SPECTOR is his exploration of the client-attorney relationship between legendary music producer Phil Spector (Al Pacino) and defense attorney Linda Kenney Baden (Helen Mirren), who represented Spector during his first trial for murder. Mamet serves as executive producer with Barry Levinson. The cast also includes Rebecca Pidgeon, Jeffrey Tambor and Chiwetel Ejiofor. -HBO.com
Well as you all know by now that I have been an avid fan of Gary Clark Jr. and his two releases ("Bright Lights EP" and "Blak & Blu"). Considered by many to be a major influence and player in multiple genres such as rock, blues and neo-soul for years to come, Gary has been on the road like a mad man promoting his new album "Blak & Blu" with a string of performances ranging from night shows to The Kennedy Honors.
In his latest televised performance, Gary was spotted on Jimmy Kimmel's late night show jammin out some album hits on his [almost expected] red Epiphone Casino and band in toll. Check out his tracks "Numb" and "Ain't Messin 'Round" below:
In other news as well, Gary Clark Jr. has taken it upon himself to kick start his own music festival, which will be located in his home state of Texas. The Maverick Music Festival is set for March 23rd in San Antonio, TX and will feature Clark Jr. along with other artists such as the Toadies, Girl in a Coma, Arum Rae and Henry and the Invisibles.
According to the website information, the festival will feature mostly all local musicians during the daytime portion, followed by Clark Jr. and the announced lineup during the night. Daytime events will be free, and tickets for the nighttime show are available at the festival's website.
As mentioned before, both tracks are featured off of the album "Blak and Blu", which has charted #6 on the Billboard top 200, #1 on Billboard's Blues genre, and being Rolling Stone Magazine's '50 Best Albums of 2012'.
Fore more info on GCJ, check out my previous article:
It's that wonderful time of the year where I can forget the over hyped (and personally, I think fixed) Grammy Awards and focus on something that gives "Best Hard Rock/Metal Performance" a little more justice. Not bashing any of the nominees on the bill for the Grammys, but I'm sure that beyond the scope of the major players in the rock/metal industry, there is some raw talent that goes unrecognized simply because they don't have the platform or label that can put them on a worldwide pedestal.
So moving forwrad, the 2013 Revolver Golden Gods Awards will be taking place on Thursday, May 2nd at Club Nokia in Downtown Los Angeles. FOZZY frontman (and WWE pro-wrestling legend) Chris Jericho will continue his role as host for the 4th consecutive year. The nominees in 11 different [fan-voted] categories, as well as the recipients of this year's prestigious "Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award" (presented by Ernie Ball), "Golden God Award" (presented by Sumerian Records) and "Riff Lord" (presented by EMG Pickups), were revealed at a press conference at the Hard Rock Cafe Hollywood in Los Angeles. The "Black Carpet" pre-show will be hosted once again by Sebastian Bach and Dee Snider. Bach and Snider will be interviewing all the nominees, honorees and performers before the event.
And if that wasn't good enough for you, the event will finally be broadcast live on national television through AXS TV, as well as being broadcast in the US and key international markets through Xbox LIVE and Facebook.
So let's start with the big one of course. The winner for Album of the Year was:
The musical performances that are set to place that night will include sets by METALLICA, FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH, ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR, THE DILLINGER ESCAPE PLAN and HALESTORM, with more performers to be announced in the coming weeks. Stone Sour, In This Moment and Hell or Highwater are set to kick off the "Road To Revolver Golden Gods Tour" as well in March, 2013. Dates announced thus far include:
04/02 Portland, ME – State Theatre 04/03 Boston, MA – House Of Blues 04/05 Montclair, NJ – Wellmont Theater 04/06 Atlantic City, NJ – House Of Blues 04/07 Lancaster, PA Freedom Hall 04/10 Huntington, NY – The Paramount 04/11 Silver Spring, MD – The Fillmore 04/17 Atlanta, GA – Masquerade Music Park 04/24 Nashville, TN – Marathon Music Works
More are to be announced in the coming days. Other categories and nominations for the evening are as follows:
Best Guitarist
* John 5 (ROB ZOMBIE, MARILYN MANSON)
* Stephen Carpenter (DEFTONES)
* Alex Lifeson (RUSH)
* Misha Mansoor (PERIPHERY)
* Brendon Small (DETHKLOK)
* Kim Thayil (SOUNDGARDEN)
Best Drummer
* Abe Cunningham (DEFTONES)
* Mario Duplantier (GOJIRA)
* Arejay Hale (HALESTORM)
* Gene Hoglan (DETHKLOK, TESTAMENT)
* Roy Mayorga (STONE SOUR)
* Neil Peart (RUSH)
Paul Gray Best Bassist
* Rex Brown (KILL DEVIL HILL, PANTERA)
* Steve Harris (IRON MAIDEN)
* Lemmy Kilmister (MOTÖRHEAD)
* Geddy Lee (RUSH)
* Jason Newsted (NEWSTED, METALLICA)
* Sergio Vega (DEFTONES)
Best Vocalist
* Philip Anselmo (DOWN, PANTERA)
* Maria Brink (IN THIS MOMENT)
* Chris Cornell (SOUNDGARDEN)
* Lzzy Hale (HALESTORM)
* Chino Moreno (DEFTONES)
* Corey Taylor (STONE SOUR, SLIPKNOT)
Best New Talent
* DEVICE
* GHOST
* KVELERTAK
* MISS MAY I
* OF MICE & MEN
* YOUNG GUNS
"Being in the studio these last few months working on our new album, the momentum has been building. We are ready to be back where we belong — onstage in front of all of you! What better way to play our first show of 2013 than with our family at Revolver magazine and on America's only hard-rock and heavy-metal awards show!" -Ivan Moody
Most Metal Athlete
* Tom Crabtree (Green Bay Packers, NFL)
* Tanner Faust (Rally and drifting car racing)
* Clay Guida (Mixed Martial Arts fighting, UFC)
* Triple H (WWE wrestling)
* Geoff Rowley (Skateboarding)
* CJ Wilson (Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim, MLB)
Best Live Band
* ANTHRAX
* FIVE FINGER DEATH PUNCH
* HATEBREED
* LAMB OF GOD
* SLIPKNOT
* VOLBEAT
Comeback Of The Year
* AEROSMITH
* THE DARKNESS
* QUICKSAND
* REFUSED
* SOUNDGARDEN
* TENACIOUS D
Song Of The Year
* ASKING ALEXANDRIA - "Run Free"
* AVENGED SEVENFOLD -"Carry On"
* BLACK VEIL BRIDES - "In The End"
* DETHKLOK - "I Ejaculate Fire"
* HALESTORM - "Love Bites (So Do I)"
* IN THIS MOMENT - "Blood"
Most Dedicated Fans
* BLACK LABEL SOCIETY
* BLACK VEIL BRIDES
* A DAY TO REMEMBER
* HIM
* RAMMSTEIN
* SLIPKNOT
Voting for the nominees has already begun, so make your way over to Revolver Golden God's official website to vote for your favourite artists! Polls close on April 15th, 2013.
So now onto some major awards that were announced at the press conference on January 31st (at the Hard Rock Café in Hollywood, CA)
Golden God Award
(presented by Sumerian Records)
The award that is given to one special honoree a year who embodies the spirit of hard rock and metal will go to musician and director ROB ZOMBIE!
"What can I say? It is a complete honor to receive this award and have my name join the list of such legendary past winners as Alice Cooper and Gene Simmons. Pretty cool deal to be part of the Golden God club."
The Ronnie James Dio Lifetime Achievement Award
(presented by Ernie Ball)
Recipients of the award will be none other than METALLICA!
"Since the Revolver Golden Gods Awards is fast becoming THE most rocking awards ceremony in the hard rock world, we are beyond psyched to be at the receiving end of this shout out and in the distinguished company of RUSH, Lemmy, Ozzy and MÖTLEY CRÜE. I was hanging out and presenting at the shenanigans two years ago and the energy in the room and the vibe backstage was beyond fucking cool, so METALLICA is chomping at the bit to partake in this year's event. Once again, we are honored to be recognized as achievers (!!) and we can't wait to get up and jam onstage and sweat for and on everybody gathered." -Lars Ulrich
Riff Lord
(presented by EMG Pickups)
Recipient of the award will be legendary guitar master TONY IOMMI!
"What a great honor to receive the Golden Gods Riff Lord Award for 2013, especially with our new SABBATH album coming out. I hope there will be some new favorite riffs in these songs."
Not sure where I am going to start this week for albums. Ever have that moment of too many options to choose from and can't decide where to start? Yeah, that's me today. I think I'm going to go off the beaten path and start with Mr. Connick Jr's "Smokey Mary", or maybe some Ron Sexsmith. Or MAYBE toning the distortion down to something such as Jim James' "Regions of Light and Sound of God". Too many decisions, ahhhhh!
I feel I'm in a non-metal mood after cramming 45 minutes of blast beats into a workout to get the blood pumping. Anyways, you all know the drill and belief of AFGM. Show some love and support. Make your way to your local record shop or your favourite online retailer to grab a few of these albums. Cheers!
Named after the famed Mardi Gras train-engine parade float, singer/pianist Harry Connick, Jr.'s funk-oriented 2013 studio album Smokey Mary coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Krewe of Orpheus, the Mardi Gras super krewe that Connick co-founded in 1993... Elsewhere on Smokey Mary, Connick delves into a handful of original contemporary R&B-sounding numbers including "Wish I Were Him," "Dang You Pretty," and "Angola (At the Farm)." Helping bring out the album's high-energy party vibe is his stellar backing ensemble, including such stand-out musicians as Preservation Hall trumpeter Mark Braud, trombonist Lucien Barbarin, saxophonist Branford Marsalis, and percussionist Bill Summers, among others. Ultimately, Connick doing his funk thing won't float everyone's boat, but for longtime fans, Smokey Mary will probably play like the passing parade float it is named after, a lot of colorful, shiny fun. -All Music
Conduit builds on the strong foundations set by their previous two albums, continuing the band’s upward trajectory following a creative slump in the late 00′s that saw them leave their record label. Probably the best move they have ever made. Moving from alternative rock back to their hardcore punk roots, the album has more in common with the crunch of their EP’s ‘Between ‘Order and Model’ and ‘Four Ways to Scream Your Name’ than any other release in their catalogue. The result is 11 tracks that bludgeon the senses and a band that have never been more comfortable in their own skin. With a new drummer at the helm in the shape of former Rise To Remain sticksman Pat Lundy, this the sound of a band at their creative peak. -Media Blasphemy
Using a session band of heavy hitters including Pete Thomas and Davey Faragher of Elvis Costello’s band the Imposters, as well as Greg Leisz, Froom and Sexsmith evoke the refreshing airiness that dazzled listeners on Sexsmith’s first three major-label discs, which Froom also helmed or co-produced (he returned for Time Being in 2006). Clown in Broad Daylight, from the brilliant Other Songs, for example, has a cousin in the light and breezy Back of My Hand.
Forever Endeavour is soaked in favourite Sexsmith themes, tackled with the usual disarming plainspokeness. He sings here of the inevitability of regret, love’s redeeming power and the fragility of life (a cancer scare Sexsmith went through in 2011 is reflected in many of the songs, notably the sweet, melancholy, melodically rich Deepens With Time and The Morning Light). -Montreal Gazette
The tale is expertly told, though. The band is truly exceptional here, juggling the many schizophrenic pieces and never dropping one. The scope and ambition of this undertaking would crush a lesser band. Thankfully, rather than a Use Your Illusion, where there are a few highlights in amongst the wreckage of ego, we get The Wall, an epic work of musical and storytelling genius. There was a time where I doubted that Claudio would be able to continue this tale beyond the core Amory Wars Saga. Now, I can’t wait to see where he takes us next.
The only grey lining on my silver cloud is that there is most likely not another album following in another five months. -Technology Tell
In terms of the sound quality, the vocals are clear, and while the guitars and other instruments could stand to come through more brightly, this is a live album, so it’s not really an impediment. The record serves as a document, capturing the band’s live energy, and it succeeds on that front.
Fittingly, these recordings come from 2012 Halloween shows the band played in New York City and their home state of New Jersey, and it’s obvious that the boys’ favorite holiday enlivens them. If every day is, indeed, Halloween for the Misfits, they’re doing something right. -Diffuser
Bits and pieces of this narrative are sprinkled throughout the album’s tracks, which flow often seamlessly into one another. It seems like James’ full-length solo debut might even have a vague story of its own. However, as easy as the record is to listen to, discerning a complete tale from the songs proves to be much more challenging, but in the most fun way possible. The album definitely tempts the listener to journey down a rabbit hole, but the trip isn’t required to enjoy it.
Either way, Regions of Light and Sound of God marks a promising first entry in a solo career we’ve been waiting on. It’s a bold direction that’s not always easy to pursue successfully in the world of music, but Jim James is sure off to a good start.
Mixing a post-grunge sound, complete with a slight metal edge, and a radio-ready studio sheen, Red play songs that, although they're often filled with confusion, despair, and anger, are also ultimately positive and redemptive, which is where the band's Christian base comes into the blend. Release the Panic, the group's fourth album (led by the title track as the first single), doesn't mess with the formula very much, and if they sound like Linkin Park, say, or Chevelle, that firm faith in hope and redemption gives the band a kind of spiritual warmth not always apparent at first listen. -All Music
Man, what I wouldn't give to be waking up this morning in the good ol city of Chicago after seeing Mr. Buddy Guy after a solid performance. But alas, I snap out of my morning haze and realize I am just on a bus on the way to work with Buddy Guy's Live At Legends album in my headphones. I digress back to reality I go (haha).
1. Intro (Live) 2. Best Damn Fool (Live) 3. Mannish Boy (Live) 4. I Just Want To Make Love To You/Chicken Heads (Live) 5. Skin Deep (Live) 6. Damn Right I Got The Blues (Live) 7. Boom Boom/Strange Brew (Live) 8. Voodoo Child (Slight Return)/Sunshine Of Your Love (Live) 9. Polka Dot Love 10. Coming For You 11. Country Boy
So my morning commute was off to a more light heart sound versus the normal daily distortion my ears crave. I was in more of a soulful mood this morning and wanted to hear some no bullshit talent just start whaling on the guitar. I think my thought process for this came about while attending the Bovine Sex Club on the weekend to check out The Unchained. Though vastly different in sound, both Mike and Ange were just going to town on the Gibson Les Paul guitars and thus resonated through me to listen to something with a little more groove than speed.
I opted for Buddy Guy this morning because I already had a copy of the album on hand, he's #30 on Rolling Stone Magazine's all time guitarist list, his Live At Legends series was some of the best blues rock that Chicago has to offer and he managed to add a few licks from other musicians (Jimi Hendrix, Cream, John Lee Hooker) to round out the album. Being officially released on December, 18th, 2012, Live at Legends also contains three (previously unreleased) studio recordings from Guy's critically acclaimed "Living Proof" album sessions.
For those wondering where this Live At Legends is located and recorded, 700 S. Wabash Avenue in the great ol city of Chicago. Here's some history surrounding Buddy Guy's residency (when not on tour):
Since its opening in June of '89, Buddy Guy's Legends has built a reputation as the nation's premier blues club. Mr. Guy's personal reputation as the crowned king of Chicago's electric blues scene and his 50+ years in the music business have made Buddy truly a legend himself. As a blues club, Legends is distinguished for its innovative scheduling of local, national, and international blues acts. In the twenty-one years that Legends has been open, the stage has been graced by some of the world's most talented musicians. Van Morrison, Willie Dixon, Albert Collins, Bo Diddley, The Rolling Stones, The Black Crowes, Dr. John, Lou Rawls, David Bowie, ZZ Top, Junior Wells, Slash, John Mayer, Stevie Ray Vaughan, Greg Allman, and The Pointer Sisters are just a few examples of the talent that has graced the stage. Buddy Guy himself takes the stage every January, selling out over a dozen shows year after year, delighting crowds that have traveled from all over the world.
While the Legends stage has played host to a myriad of true blues legends, the walls themselves talk, filled with pieces of Buddy's and Blues history. Where else can blues fans find original artwork painted on the wall, records, rare photos and Grammys, along with personal items from some of the world's most influential performers? You'll see two of Buddy Guy's Grammys and his Rock & Roll Hall of Fame statue; a photo of Buddy, Eric Clapton, and Stevie Ray Vaughan taken at Vaughan's final concert. A world-renowned collection of guitars can be found over the main bar, signed by B.B. King, Carlos Santana, Eric Clapton, as well as Jimmy and Stevie Ray Vaughan.
In November 1994, Eric Clapton graced the stage with three sold-out performances. The unprecedented concerts awed the crowd as Clapton called up Otis Rush to jam and nodded to the Who's Pete Townsend, who had stopped by to take in the show. Legends truly lives up to its name.
There is only one place in Chicago to experience the finest blues seven nights a week, enjoy fantastic southern Cajun soul food and behold a major archive of blues memorabilia. That place is Buddy Guy's Legends. Voted "Best Blues Club" several times over by Living Blues Magazine, Citysearch, and AOL, Legends continues to be a mecca for the blues.
Now the sound tends to vary from track to track. When kicking off the album, you can hear some distinction between "Best Damn Fool" (taken from 2008’s Skin Deep album) and Muddy Water's "Mannish Boy" especially with guitar tone and level, but I find it to be more the spirit of blues versus a perfect mixing. Especially with myself, I have learned over time that those little imperfections are what makes the album signature. The tracks themselves are the essence of blues, as they seems to incorporate identifiable guitar solos, distinct blues distortion and some vocals that no one could dispute. Not sure really how else to put it other than it's blues, plain and simple.
A couple of the tracks didn't catch my attention as much as I hoped, such as "Skin Deep" and the Muddy Waters classic "Country Boy" where I seemed to be falling asleep more than needed on my ride in. The fine line picking songs that will not blow your eardrums first thing, but also enough energy to keep me awake for the remainder of the day. I feel your music taste of the day should be equally important as choosing what to eat for breakfast. A good dose of music can make or break your day. I understand why Guy ultimately had these tracks added as it encompasses what having 'the blues' is all about.
Guy jumps right back into the groove on the album by playing "Damn Right I Got The Blues" and "Boom Boom/Strange Brew". Some of the covers performed here not only give tribune to their respected creators, but also has Guy throw a little but of a twist on them to not make it seems like a cover band evening. I'm sure Clapton, Hooker and Hendrix would be proud.
All in all, the album is rather short in length, especially from the live perspective. But I can understand that this was a compilation of recordings throughout the "Legends" shows that Guy has been performing so there was no real set list or order. Just basically whatever came out sounding good on the mixing board made the cut. Other than the length of the album, I was satisfied and can still see why Guy is a living legend. The man brings soul, heart and groove in a matter of minutes from the opening chord. This is one of the few genres of music I can actually see myself progressing with if I ever reached my pinnacle or hard rock/heavy metal. I know it seems early but it definitely makes me want to start planning my trip for the 2013 Chicago Blue Festival.
“You mastered the soul of gut bucket, you made a bridge from roots to rock ‘n roll. When you hear the blues, you really don’t think of it as black or white or yellow or purple or blue,” Freeman continued. “Buddy Guy, your blue brought us together.” -Morgan Freeman
For now, I will stick with my YouTube videos and aspirations of attending the festival someday; adding another note to the bucket list. For some extra (and rather prestigious) footage, you can catch Tracy Chapman, Gary Clark Jr. and Jimmy Vaughan paying tribute to guy at the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors, with Buddy Guy in attendance. Cheers!
"I didn't know a Strat could sound like that — until I heard Buddy's tracks on the Blues From Big Bill's Copa Cabana album. It was the total manic abandon in Buddy's solos. They broke all boundaries. I just thought, this is more like it! Also, his solos weren't restricted to a three-minute pop format; they were long and really developed." -Jeff Beck
"Buddy Guy was to me what Elvis was for others. Buddy Guy is by far and without a doubt the best guitar player alive...if you see him in person, the way he plays is beyond anyone. Total freedom of spirit, I guess. He really changed the course of rock and roll blues." -Eric Clapton
