Mike Hsu's Blog

Shinedown are becoming Kings of the Rock Power Ballad. The kind of song where you find your arm reaching for a lighter once it starts. The kind of song that could be great for a slow dance but kicks in just enough to make it seem a little awkward. Must be their Duval County, Florida roots. Lynyrd Skynyrd are from the same area. One thing is for sure, Brent Smith's voice is for real. No auto-tune there.

This performance was recorded live at Henson Studios, Hollywood CA:

This is a preview clip for the song "I Appear Missing" from the new Queens Of The Stone Age album ..Like Clockwork, out on June 4. It starts with a heavily bandaged and bleeding man waking(or rising) in the middle of one of Josh Homme's favorite subjects, The Desert. He seemingly wills himself to float past several hazards like hungry vermin and prickly cacti to an urban area where he ends up..well, you'll see. It's good to see QOTSA remain as creepy as ever. it's all about the Weirdness.

Metallica were honored by their Hometown team with a "Metallica Night" at AT&T Park in San Francisco. They didn't have Metallica Bobble heads but they did give out sweet Giants/Metallica caps and had Drummer Lars Ulrich throw out the first pitch. The most Rock part of the night was James Hetfield and Kirk Hammet injecting the Metal into the "Star Spangled Banner". I've always been a sucker for the epic twin guitar lead and when applied to our National Anthem, it was double Epic.



By the way, those sweet Caps are already $96.00 on Ebay.

Volbeat's greasy haired leader Michael Poulsen described their sound the best when he asked the crowd at The House Of Blues last night, "Do you want Metal? Do you want Rock-N-Roll? Do you want Country? Do you want Punk?" They delivered all of that with a steely-eyed confidence for 90 minutes. I have indentations in my skull to prove it.

By the end of the last song "Pool Of Booze Booze Booza" The House Of Blues was a steaming sweaty mess of drunken piles of flesh. Not once through the whole show did Poulsen not smile. Grinning while he and his band delivered a steady stream of beatings to the rabid dog crowd. With his black vest and Sheriff's badge he looked like the Doc Holiday from the song, prowling the OK Corral for a kill. He has a lot to be happy about with his band on a rocket trip and an album doing the same on the charts. You were lucky if you were in attendance. This might be the last time Volbeat plays a room this small in Boston.

Yngwie Malmsteen could have been the greatest Trumpet player of all time.  Or greatest Drummer of all time.  But it was Jimi Hendrix setting his guitar ablaze that inspired the very young Swede to pick up the instrument he is most known for.  Since then he has been called the "Greatest Guitar Player In The World" (among many other things) and has released 19 albums worth of mind boggling guitar Gymnastics that has influenced and confounded many.

You can see him shred it up tonight at The Wilbur Theater in Boston.

 

 

 

Early Saturday Morning(April 13) Deftones Bassist Chi Cheng passed away after a battle to recover from a car accident back in 2008.  Chi had been in a coma for most of that time but had shown signs of recovery which kept his family, fellow band members, and fans hopeful for a recovery.  His struggles were documented by his family at the One Love For Chi site.  The news of his death was posted by his mother there:

"Our dearest Family,

This is the hardest thing to write to you. Your love and heart and devotion to Chi was unconditional and amazing. I know that you will always remember him as a giant of a man on stage with a heart for every one of you. He was taken to the emergency [sic] room and at 3 am today his heart just suddenly stopped. He left this world with me singing songs he liked in his ear.

He fought the good fight. You stood by him sending love daily. He knew that he was very loved and never alone. I will write more later. I will be going through the oneloveforchi and any other information may not be reliable. If you have any stories or messages to share please send them to the onelove site. Please hold Mae and Ming and the siblings and especially Chi’s son, Gabriel in your prayers. It is so hard to let go.

With great love and “Much Respect!” Mom J (and Chi)"

The last time I talked to Chi was at the 2006 Family Values Tour at the Comcast Center in Mansfield.  At the time Deftones had struggled through recording Saturday Night Wrist with tensions in the band at an all time high.  I had interviewed Singer Chino Moreno that day as well as a few other bands on the tour and had run into Chi taking a smoke break in the backstage courtyard.  He seemed way more mellow and tired than when I had spoke to him last on the White Pony tour.  He said he was a "Ghost" on this tour, trying to keep a low profile and not get into too much trouble.  We also talked about his growing interest in Country and Western music.  He was digging deep into the real "shit kicking stuff" as he called it like Hank Jr., Waylon Jennings, and other Outlaw artists.  I had suggested a few bands I liked to him and we had a great conversation about Roots and Americana music.  It was a real conversation with a person who kept it real.

On a good night, the Deftones could move mountains.  Chi's bass playing created an elastic bottom that, when coupled with Abe Cunningham's drumming,  could alter your heartbeat to conform to their rhythm.   

All of us here at WAAF are saddened by Chi's death and send our condolences to his Family and his band mates in Deftones. 

 

"My God Is The Sun" is the first taste of Like Clockwork which will be out on June 4.  The Queens first album since 2007's Era Vulgaris.  Once again the gigantic drumming of Dave Grohl graces the line up.(Including this song) Other guests include original bassist Nick Oliveri, and Elton John.(Yes, THAT Elton John)

I wish I could be at The House Of Blues tonight for the Black Crowes latest "We're Talking Again" tour.  But unfortunately the Red Sox latest collapse has me spiraling into a reclusive malaise.  Not to mention I couldn't scam free tickets.  Hopefully this PBS special from 2011 will tide you over until they return to the Bank Of America Pavilion in Boston on July 30.  Those tickets go on sale tomorrow(4/12) Get the details here.

The new Rob Zombie video for "Dead City Radio And The New Gods Of Supertown" has all the essential ingredients for a good time.  Hot chicks, break dancing, an astronaut, a dwarf, a Yeti wearing sunglasses, and a giant chicken.  I'm speculating that's graffiti artist Banksy in the hoodie standing next to what looks like one of his creations on a brick wall.  Also, look for Buckcherry singer Josh Todd at the end.  Yep, just another day at the Zombie House.

Pearl Jam hope to have a new album out later this year.  Guitarist Mike McCready has said that he would like to finish the sessions they started two years ago and get on the road.  Until then, here's their full performance from this past weekend at Lollapalooza Brazil.  Kick back for a couple hours and tell the boss you're doing some "research".  Great version of "Baba O'riley".

Night Songs - Cinderella (1986)

Led Zeppelin IV - Led Zeppelin (1971)

My friend Mark Hartless sent this to me and asked me what I made of it.  Upon first viewing this is what I surmised:

During the Rebel Alliance action on the Forrest moon of Endor  that eventually helped destroy the Second Death Star, a rebel assault force discovered a tribe of beings called Ewoks.  These furry and diminutive creatures assisted the Alliance and later partied with the Rebel Fighters in their massive Tree House.  That is where Ewok Music was first heard.  You can listen to a sample here.  During the lively celebrations(which may have included some type of mind altering beverages) Rebel Fighters must have had intimate relations with the Ewoks.  Later creating the Human/Ewok hybrid.  Over hundreds of years this hybrid species developed the technology to explore space all the while keeping their love of music alive.  

During exploration of our Solar System an Ewok Space ship crashed on Earth somewhere in Estonia and the Ewoks were captured by the then suppressive Warsaw Pact Regime.  Despite being tortured, used for experiments and as sex slaves, the Ewok/Humans were able to keep their love of music alive.  Although by this time it had evolved into a fast paced, more angry form of song.  

Once the Estonian Government deemed them useless to their cause they sent them to a work camp in the Latvia.  The Ewok/Humans were able to escape and were given shelter by a scout for popular circus show, Cirque du Soleil.  They were eventually incorporated into the act and were able to express themselves musically, but not as much as they liked.  

After the fall of Communism they returned to the only place they knew as home, Estonia.  While there, they were able to develop their unique sounds which had become influenced by artists such as Anthrax and The Muppets.  After being suppressed for so long they were able to let loose and show the world the full extent of their art.  This culminated on an Estonian "American Idol" type television show.

Well, according to the "FACTS" I was way off.  This is actually Winny Puhh(which translates into Winny Pooh..go figure) an Estonian punk band that has been around for some time but hasn't really broken through to the West.  Obviously due to some kind of Ewok discrimination.  The name of the song they are playing is "Meiecundimees üks Korsakov läks eile Lätti" which, according to Google Translate, means "Meiecundimees one Korsakov just went to Latvia".  So, that explains a lot.  All I know is, this is the greatest thing since Black Sabbath and I'm going to start a tribute band.

 

This is not the only evidence of the Rap-Rock Revival.  Mr. Edward Van Halen has been working with the man who takes direction from his Mother when it comes to leaving people comatose, LL Cool J:
 

 

Better start dusting off that Red Baseball Cap...

I think it's fantastic that the Library Of Congress has recognized the Ramones first album as a musical work that is "culturally, historically or aesthetically significant".  Since the 2000 National Preservation Act, the LOC has been preserving some pretty good stuff in the National Recording Registry.  Works by The Beatles, The Stones, The Allman Brothers, Bob Dylan, Grandmaster Flash And The Furious Five, and Bruce Springsteen are among many who have been deemed to be important musical achievements.  Does that mean they recognize sniffing glue as "culturally significant" because of the huffers anthem, "Now I Wanna Sniff Some Glue"?  Believe me, I'm not complaining at all.  This is one of my favorite albums of all time.  I think it's great that "53rd And 3rd", a song about a Vietnam Vet with a bad habit who hangs out at an intersection known for male prostitutes and kills to prove he's a man, is now preserved form the life of the Union in it's records.

Sure, there are other drug addicts and deviants preserved in the Nations most prestigious hall of records like The Beach Boys, James Brown, Michael Jackson, and fellow 2012 inductees Pink Floyd(for Dark Side Of The Moon, HUZZAH!)  But aside from fellow New Yorkers Sonic Youth, Ramones are the first true Punk band and the first to have a song like "Beat On The Brat" in the LOC.
 

You could actually look at The Ramones as a microcosm of the U.S.A. You have the extreme right winger Johnny at odds with the extremely liberal Joey and in between Dee Dee and Tommy(drummer for this album) being pushed and pulled back and forth just trying to keep the beat steady.  I've also thought "Today Your Love, Tomorrow The World" would make a great National Anthem.

Here's a list of the current entrants into the National Recording Registry.  What musical works do you think should be preserved in the Library Of Congress?


Here's the other significant addition to the National Recording Registry:

 

I hope they have a smoking area at the Library Of Congress.

He was in an Atlanta band in the 90's called The Marvelous 3 who had a minor hit WAAF used to play called "Freak Of The Week".  

Here's some classic Wooderson in action:
 

Biting Elbows is a Punk band from Moscow and you can check out their music here.  It's pretty good.  But this isn't about the music, it's about the crazy-ass, first person killer, Tarantino-like videos they made for their two songs "The Stampede" and "Bad Motherf***er".  Director Sergey Valyaev has created the ultimate cubicle escape fantasy.  WARNING: These videos contain ultra-violence, sexual content, and everything else that makes these kind of things more fun and entertaining.
 

 

Nine Inch Nails have posted a documentary of their 1994-96 "Self Destruct Tour", possibly the most debauched period for Trent Reznor and crew.  This was previously released on the "Closure" VHS in 1997.  The 75 minute video is edited to give you motion sickness and contains scenes featuring tour mates David Bowie(who duets with Reznor on a powerful version of "Hurt") and a hung over Marilyn Manson.  There is also much destruction of equipment and sanity.  Back then, Nine Inch Nails shows were half Rock Show, half Gladiator Fight.  This was the tour where Trent Reznor scared himself and ended up making the quiet and fearful The Fragile before disappearing for a few years.  

I haven't seen anyone rock a Keytar like this since... Since... Hmmm.... You'll have to give me a minute on that one.  Maybe you can help me out?  Remind me who rocked the Keytar the best in the comments section below.  But these guys kick ass. They're almost as good as My Dick!

There is no doubt this dude ROCKS!  You may think he's a clown but give him credit, he's passionate about his music.  Good thing this wasn't rush hour or there would be several serious injuries and hair all over people.  BayRidgeDan caught this headbanger doing his thing on the train in Brooklyn.  The Dude just doesn't give a fuck.  That's what makes him great.  He probably just got off work and has the next two days off.  Or he just got the best BJ of his life.  

Keep your Head bangin' Dude.  

Can anyone make out what he's singing along to?

"Cape Of Our Hero" is from Volbeat's upcoming album Outlaw Gentlemen And Shady Ladies which will be released in the U.S. on April 9.  It's a rather melodic, sentimental song from a band that usually likes to mix their Motorhead with Johnny Cash and Metallica.  In some recent interviews, Singer/Guitarist Michael Poulson said a lot of the new songs were written while touring the U.S. with some inspiration from his favorite Spaghetti Westerns he used to watch with his Father.  

Record Store Day is happening this year on April 20th(yes, 4/20) and the RSD Ambassador for 2013 is Vinyl Record Champion and Protector Jack White(White Stripes, The Dead Weather, The Racontuers).  White has taken the vinyl release to new levels with his Third Man Records label so he is a natural fit to spread the RSD word.  In the video below, White takes us on a tour of a Record Plant and explains that there is more involved with supporting Mom and Pop Record Stores.  

Here's Jack White's Official Statement for Music Lovers:

Years ago someone told me that 1,200 high school kids were given a survey. A question was posed to them: Have you ever been to a stand-alone record shop? The number of kids that answered "yes" was... zero.

Zero? How could that be possible? Then I got realistic and thought to myself, "Can you blame them?" How can record shops (or any shop for that matter) compete with Netflix, TiVo, video games that take months to complete, cable, texting, the Internet, etc. etc? Getting out of your chair at home to experience something in the real world has started to become a rare occurrence, and to a lot of people, an unnecessary one. Why go to a bookstore and get a real book? You can just download it. Why talk to other human beings, discuss different authors, writing styles and influences?  Just click your mouse.  Well here's what they'll someday learn if they have a soul; there's no romance in a mouse click.  There's no beauty in sitting for hours playing video games (anyone proud of that stop reading now and post your opinion in the nearest forum).  The screen of an iPhone is convenient, but it’s no comparison to a 70mm showing of a film in a gorgeous theater. The Internet is two-dimensional…helpful and entertaining, but no replacement for face-to-face interaction with a human being.  But we all know all of that, right?  Well, do we?  Maybe we know all that, but so what?

Let's wake each other up.

The world hasn't stopped moving. Out there, people are still talking to each other face-to-face, exchanging ideas and turning each other on. Art houses are showing films, people are drinking coffee and telling tall tales, women and men are confusing each other and record stores are selling discs full of soul that you haven’t felt yet.  So why do we choose to hide in our caves and settle for replication?  We know better.  We should at least. We need to re-educate ourselves about human interaction and the difference between downloading a track on a computer and talking to other people in person and getting turned onto music that you can hold in your hands and share with others.  The size, shape, smell, texture and sound of a vinyl record; how do you explain to that teenager who doesn't know that it's a more beautiful musical experience than a mouse click?  You get up off your ass, you grab them by the arm and you take them there.  You put the record in their hands.  You make them drop the needle on the platter.  Then they'll know. 

Let's wake each other up.

As Record Store Day Ambassador of 2013 I’m proud to help in any way I can to invigorate whoever will listen with the idea that there is beauty and romance in the act of visiting a record shop and getting turned on to something new that could change the way they look at the world, other people, art, and ultimately, themselves.

Let's wake each other up.

That's pretty moving shit.  I just ripped off my shirt and started screaming at my CD collection.(In about 5 years we'll probably be having a CD Store Day)  RSD is actually one of the few things I'll get up early and wait in line for.  When the doors open it becomes a Geek Battle Royal.  A lot of bearded guys with glasses elbowing for position to get that limited release.  
 

As a music enthusiast I still love throwing a record on the turntable.  It's more of a listening "Experience" than listening to your iPod.  With vinyl you make a bit of a commitment to sitting down(or laying on the floor with headphones) and checking out the packaging and artwork while taking in the music.  Plus you only have about 20 until you have to turn the record over.  It keeps you engaged.  Unless you have one of those old school multi-album holders for your turntable.  

Please don't be this guy.  I love records, but...
 

For a list of participating Record stores and releases check here.

Enjoy!

This is a live performance at Dave Grohl's Studio 606 of the song "Mantra" which can also be found on the Sound City: Real To Reel Soundtrack out on March 12th. Grohl on Drums, Josh Homme(Queens Of The Stone Age) on Bass, and Trent Reznor(Nine Inch Nails, How To Destroy Angels) on Keyboards. This is the definition of Slow Burn.
 

 

Last night, Dave Grohl and his Sound City Players closed down Hollywood Boulevard thanks to Jimmy Kimmel and ripped through the Creedence classic "Fortunate Son" with John Fogerty himself sharing the vocals with Grohl. 



Get more details on the Sound City Documentary here.

No, not one of those Lullaby Albums that spin your favorite Rock into sweetness so you can at least enjoy it a little while you're rocking(the motion) you critter back to sleep(hopefully) at 3am.  It's also not actual babies playing Metal.  But it's close.  

 

Baby Metal is a Trio of very young Japanese Girls fronting a sick metal band dressed in skeleton body suits.  They forge a mix of what sounds like European style Power Metal and Thrash with J-Pop Vocals into an alloy dubbed "Kawaii Metal".  Yes, it's a gimmick, but it also weird's me out.  That's a quality I look for in music.  I see this spreading to the Western Nations and being marketed as "Cute-Core".  Demonic Hello Kitty-esque.  Satanic My Little Pony.  If Jessie from the Disney Channel did a project with Dimmu Borgir.  Let the video impale you with sweetness.

“The anniversary edition is limited to 5,000 copies and features art direction by Adam Jones, illustrations by legendary artist Adi Granov and design packaging by Mackie Osborne, who has collaborated with TOOL on many albums including 10,000 Days, Lateralus and Salival as well as posters and merchandise.

The 5,000 copies will be broken down as 5 x 1,000 runs with each set featuring a variation of the exterior graphics and included bonus items which include a new stereoscopic image for fans to use with their glasses from the 10,000 Days packaging.

The packages will only be available via TOOL‘s website (www.toolband.com) on Mar. 26 and there will be no pre-orders. A limit of three packages from each of the 5 x 1,000 versions will be in place. More details to be announced soon.”

Much like anything Tool does, it's surrounded in mystery.  Will it be vinyl, CD, surround sound DVD, or maybe Tool will revive the 8 track?  At least we can use those Stereoscopic glasses that came with 10,000 Days.  That was brilliant packaging.  I hope there are more extras included as far as music and video are concerned.  I would like to see or hear more live performance.  I would also like to see a "Song Remains The Same" type of montage interpreting each band members personality.  That could either be hilarious or disturbing.  

Here's your first video taste of Device, the new project featuring Dave Draiman from Disturbed. The self-titled album will be out on April 9.  The band also features former Filter member Geno Lenardo. Get more details at Mistress Carrie's Music Director's Blog.

Black Sabbath have released some footage of the band working on their upcoming new album 13, which is due in June.  Ozzy Osbourne, Tony Iommi, and Geezer Butler are shown working with Rage Against The Machine Drummer Brad Wilk.  Last month in  an interview Butler said Wilk would not be joining them on tour because of his commitments to Rage.  This, of course led to speculation that there would be a new Rage Against The Machine album or tour as well.  Still really can't consider this a reunion without Bill Ward behind the drums but still Looking forward to it.

Anthrax will be releasing an EP of covers on March 19 called Anthems, a tribute to some of the classic rock tunes beloved by the band.  It includes a cover of "Anthem" by the Greatest Band In North America, RUSH, which you can hear below.  Guitarist Scott Ian said in Billboard Magazine it was fun because, " a lot of those [songs] aren't, I guess, normal for us or like so much of our repertoire — although they are because they're songs we all knew."

I think they did a great job.  It takes huge balls to cover Rush, but we all know Anthrax has those.  Can't wait to hear their version of Thin Lizzy's "Jailbreak"!  What do you think?

Ian said the song choice is from songs the band has jammed on for fun for years, "Because you really don't wanna have to work too hard on these things, although the RUSH song is a bit of a bitch; I can't say that's an easy one. But it's a song we all know and we're all familiar with, so then, of course, you take on the challenge of just really trying to nail it and do it justice."

In other Anthrax news local guy Jon Donais from Shadows Fall will play guitar for Anthrax on their upcoming tour filling in for departed guitarist Rob Caggiano who has joined Volbeat.

Now you have the chance to write music and instantly pop it on your turntable.  Well..if you like Electronic Music.  This is the Dyskograf:

Unfortunately, the Dyskograf is not for sale..yet.  It is a project from the art collective AVOKA.  The markings on the disc are read by a camera and translated into sound.  You can create an electronic musical odyssey with just a magic marker.  I am in no way a tech expert so you'll have to read their explanation here.  AVOKA says this form of creating music gives "room for accidents in numeric creation, accidents that offer creativity."  I think it's amazing and after a few Bong Hits can be hours of fun.  

Is it bad that the first thing I thought of was what would the sound of a drawn penis sound like? 

Device is the new project by Disturbed singer David Draiman.  Mistress Carrie covered the details in her Music Director's Blog here.  Their self-titled album will be out on April 9th.  Check out the teaser trailer below:

The Man Of A Million Projects, Dave Grohl has been guest hosting Chelsea Lately this week and Sir Elton John made an appearance this week.  After the initial love fest Sir Elton talked about working on the new Queens Of The Stone Age and Alice In Chains albums.  He joins an impressive lists of guests on the Queens Of The Stone Age project like Trent Reznor, Mark Lanegan(who is a floating member), Brode Dalle, as well as Grohl.  But that's been the Queen's MO since Rated R.  Josh Homme brings in who he needs for the song or just for the hell of it to see what happens.  Can't wait to hear it!

Clip on your boots and get in the pit! It's ok if your arm breaks off because you can just clip it back on.  Sure you're "Hardcore".  But are you LEGOCORE?! 



The music was done by Jason Maas of Defeater with Bridge Nine Records' Chris Wrenn on vocals.  The tune was co-written by Toby Dutkiewicz(brother of Killswitch Engage madman Adam Dutkiewicz).  Toby is also a designer at Lego so this is an official Lego project.  Maybe they'll get a Power Metal set going next.  Or even better, Black Metal Legos with a Burning Church set?

Here's another release from the Red Hot Chili Peppers' "I'm With You Sessions".  It's an 8 minute space jam called "In Love Dying".  I believe the Red Hot Chili Peppers are slowly floating into the stratosphere one molecule at a time with the help of their long time Alien benefactors. Just Sayin'. Load the bong for this one.

Joy Division were one of those bands that didn't have huge success while they were around but influenced many to start bands and take the path of making music with emotional intensity and dark atmospheres.  U2, Radiohead, The Cure and many others readily give credit to Joy Division for inspiration.

 

Despite the brooding anthems and the dire conclusion of the band, bassist Peter Hook has written an account that somehow injects a little humor to the legend and brings the mythos down to earth. In Unknown Pleasures: Inside Joy Division, Hook presents a first hand account of young Punks banging it out in crappy empty clubs and freezing vans like any other struggling band.  Stories of boyish pranks and chaotic live performances show that these Gothic Lords were more than just a pantheon to doom and gloom.  The book also touches on the mazing story of the Factory record label and their mission to keep it very real.  

Here's Joy Division's first full length album Unknown Pleasures:
 

This is a 1979 Television performance:

I also reccomend the movies 24 Hour Party People which is very entertaining(even if you're not a Joy Division fan) and the beautifully filmed Control.

For the "By Crooked Steps" video Soundgarden went with Director/Rock Star Dave Grohl from Foo Fighters who has made pretty great videos with his own band.  Soundgarden make dark, brooding, heavy music and Grohl manages to inject a little humor into the mix with the use of one of the most ridiculed vehicles of all time: The Segway.  Despite Soundgarden riding these Bad Motor Geek Machines..they still remain nerdy.  Great video guys!

 

 

Hey Flula, sind deine Eltern die Bombe!

Here's the Tracklist for Sound City Real To Reel which comes out March 12:

01. Robert Levon Been, Dave Grohl, Peter Hayes – "Heaven And All"
02. Chris Goss, Tim Commerford, Dave Grohl, Brad Wilk – "Time Slowing Down"
03. Stevie Nicks, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Rami Jaffee – "You Can't Fix This"
04. Rick Springfield, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Nate Mendel, Pat Smear – "The Man That Never Was"
04. Lee Ving, Dave Grohl, Taylor Hawkins, Alain Johannes, Pat Smear – "Your Wife Is Calling"
06. Corey Taylor, Dave Grohl, Rick Nielsen, Scott Reeder – "From Can To Can't"
07. Joshua Homme, Chris Goss, Dave Grohl, Alain Johannes – "Centipede"
08. Alain Johannes, Dave Grohl, Joshua Homme – "A Trick With No Sleeve"
09. Paul McCartney, Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, Pat Smear – "Cut Me Some Slack"
10. Dave Grohl, Jessy Greene, Rami Jaffee, Jim Keltner – "If I Were Me"
11. Dave Grohl, Joshua Homme, Trent Reznor – "Mantra"
 

My Dick is a Boston duo comprised of members Cool Hand and Hand Solo.  While some may label them as a cover band, they have way more girth than the average function band.  My Dick "Dick-ifys" legendary Pop hits.   They pound the song raw making it full of My Dick's unmistakable character.  Check out My Dick's "Double Full Length Release" below.  Just lay back and enjoy it.

Alice In Chains have taken their creepiness to space with this new video for "Hollow".  If you've seen the movie "Moon" you might recognize some of the scenes.(see the trailer for "Moon" below)

The AIC album will be out in the spring. There's no exact date or title yet.  But we will keep you posted.

Does anyone have any theories on what that weird maggot like thing is?

Here's the trailer for the brilliant "Moon" directed by Duncan Jones:
 

This is quite possibly the Heaviest Metal Band ever on this planet.  Not because they are made of steel.  Not because they can rip it up to "Ace Of Spades". But because the band collectively weighs 6 tons.  That's more than Bachman Turner Overdrive, The Fat Boys , and Leslie West combined!  Meet Compressorhead:
 

This might cause some concern to the paranoid like myself that Technology and Robots are taking over too much of our lives.    But know this: Lemmy Kilmister from Motorhead will outlive these machines.  Like Ozzy Osbourne and Keith Richards, Lemmy is a miracle of nature.  After these machines break down and Justin Bieber collects his first Social Security Check, Lemmy will still be guzzling Jack and Cokes and eating groupies alive.



Just for reference, here's Motorhead showing everyone how it's done.  Suck it you bloated bucket of bolts!

 

David Bowie turns 66 today.  I think it's safe to say the man is a legend.  You may not have enjoyed everything he's done(and there is a lot) but you can't deny he is a fearless artist.  So for his birthday he gives his fans a gift of new music.  You can check out "Where Are We Now" from the upcoming album The Next Day, produced by his long time collaborator(and arguably producer of his greatest work) Tony Visconti below.  

The album comes out on March 12 much to my surprise.  I say that because I had written Bowie off as "retired".  The man has seemingly done it all musically.  Experimenting with Folk, Glam, Ambient, Disco, Hard Rock, and other works that are beyond description.  He has appeared in movies and plays.  He did a Christmas song with Bing Crosby for crying out loud!  Recently he has "dropped out", keeping a lower than low profile in New York City.(The only place any legend can do that.)  So why not "retire"?  A statement on his website explains:

""In recent years radio silence has been broken only by endless speculation, rumour and wishful thinking ....a new record...who would have ever thought it, who'd have ever dreamed it! After all David is the kind of artist who writes and performs what he wants when he wants...when he has something to say as opposed to something to sell. Today he definitely has something to say."

The song is mellow and reflective as he reminisces about his time living in Germany where he escaped in the 70's to kick a tremendous Cocaine addiction and make the "Berlin Trilogy" of albums(Low, Heroes, Lodger).  In the video we see a workshop strewn with old and unfinished projects and the artist who let's the camera have a good look him.  Still so much to do, with little time left.  This isn't Ziggy Stardust or The Thin White Duke.  It's Bowie now.  Looking back while still moving forward.

Get the full track list for The Next Day here.

 

 

The new Dropkick Murphys album "Signed And Sealed In Blood" comes out today and DKM Hockey Fan posted this sweet video to their new song "The Boys Are Back".  Game On! GO Bruins!

 

The recording features Zakk Wylde, Morgan Rose (Sevendust, Call Me No One), Kevin Martin (Candlebox, The Gracious Few), John "JD" Deservio (Black Label Society, Cycle of Pain) and The Infinite Staircase.

 

It's St. Nick Vs. Moses(played by special guest Snoop "81 Joints A Day" Lion).  While I am partial to the D-O- Double G I'm kinda routing for Santa here.  

There was much hype surrounding Sir Paul McCartney's performance at the 121212 Concert for victims of Hurricane Sandy last night at Madison Square Garden.  Once it was leaked the day before that the surviving members of Nirvana were going to back the former Beatle, the internet exploded with Music Geek fervor.  Was this going to be an actual Nirvana reunion?  What Nirvana songs would Sir Paul attempt.  The word "replace" was used in some stories.  Really? Do you really think Paul McCartney could replace Kurt Cobain?  Maybe Dave Grohl could replace George Harrison in the Beatles Reunion?  I was expecting mostly Beatles and maybe one Nirvana song.  I was hoping for a McCartney crooned "About A Girl"  or "In Bloom".  Seriously, I can hear that.  
 

But what actually happened could be considered to be under whelming to the hypers and the doubters.  After a sweet mix of Beatles, Wings, and solo material with his ace backing band, Sir Paul invited Dave Grohl, Krist Novoselic, and Pat Smear to join him for a new original called "Cut Me Some Slack" written by him and Grohl that might be on the soundtrack to Grohl's upcoming documentary "Sound City".   It was a heavy slab of groove rock reminiscent of the Beatles rocker "Why Don't We Do It In The Road" and Led Zeppelin.  Check out the video here:

And that was it.  No Beatles, No Nirvana.  I actually liked it.  I wanted to hear more.  No, seriously.  I hope they make more music like this!  Some were very disappointed.  Some on the intetrnets felt duped and some said that both McCartney and the Nirvana guys compromised their reputations by being on the same stage together.  To those I say..Relax.  They didn't butcher the sacred songs from either of their respective former bands.  There was no bludgeoning of "A Day In The Life".  Paul didn't cute up "Territorial Pissings".  Relax.  It was a group of guys having fun for a good cause.  Anyone that has followed the careers of any of those involved know they long ago moved on from the Legendary Music that made them famous and have continued to evolve as musicians.  McCartney's catalog speaks for itself and Grohl and Novoselic have respectfully preserved Nirvana's musical legacy.(Granted they had legal problems preventing them from trying.  But they've been a little more classy about it than Courtney Love.)

Plus, it was great hearing Sir Paul McCartney say "Pat Smear!"  Do you think Smear ever thought, back when he was in the Germs dodging snot and bottles in shit hole clubs, that he would ever share a stage at Madison Square Garden with a Beatle?  No wonder he had that disbelieving look on his face the whole time.  I wonder what the Germs, "Lexicon Devil" would sound like with Sir Paul on vocals?
 

The Press Release form the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame:

I thought this was a joke. I was expecting the punch line at the end of the ad but...this actually exists.  The Swedish Company Pause has developed a way for music lovers to enjoy their beloved playlists beyond this Mortal Coil.  The thought of my favorite music being pumped into my coffin and at my rotting corpse is actually not a comforting thought at all.  If a track has a thumping beat it might attract more worms to feast on my carcass.  I think it's also pretty funny that this costs 23,500 Euro.(that's about $30,500) and it's listed in the "Bargains" section of the Pause website.  I guess that's short dough for an eternity of your favorite tunes.  

I'm now going to have to think about what my "After-Life Playlist" would be.  I have to.  I'm a music geek and that's what we do, right?  While you can order the number of gigs for your Coffin Sound System, to make it a little easier, what would be your top 10 songs for Eternity?  Let me know in the comment section below.  If you want to list more than 10 that's fine.  It's your Death.



My Top Ten For Eternity(This will change weekly if not daily):

1. Pink Floyd- "The Great Gig In The Sky"(The live version from 1974 Wembley Empire Pool Show)
2. Rush- In The End
3. Slayer- "Seasons In The Abyss"
4. Lita Ford and Ozzy Osbourne- "Close My Eyes Forever"
5. Type O Negative- "Love You To Death"
6. Joy Division- "Atmosphere"
7. Alice In Chains- "Down In A Hole"
8. Ramones- "Pet Cemetary"
9. Pearl Jam- "Deep"
10. Led Zeppelin- "In My Time Of Dying"(from the 1975 Earls Court Show)

 

Alright, what have you got?

For those who prefer to be cremated, this is also an option. One which I might actually do.  That way I can be kept with my precious vinyl records.

Jack White brought his all female band, The Peacocks, for his appearance on Conan last night.  He toured with this band and an all male band.  You can see both in action here.  By the way, drummer Carla Azar kicks serious ass.  No offense Meg.  I also think it's great he's doing a song about being floored by a hot chick surrounded by women.  #Rockstarproblems

This is the first track from the upcoming EP "Dogs Eating Dogs'(out on 12/18/12)  Tom Delonge has described the new music they're making as very different and progressive.  He also used the word "Organic".  Blink 182 are now on their own and doing it themselves without the help of a record label.  You can pre-order "Dogs Eating Dogs" in various forms here.  

The video is for the track "Mein Herz Brennt"(Piano Version).  It will be included on an EP of the same name to be released next Tuesday(12/10).  I needed to power wash my body after watching it.  If anyone has a knowledge of German do me a favor and don't let me know what this is about.  I feel if I did know, I wouldn't be able to sleep for the rest of my life.  I hear Till Lindeman is also available for Kids parties and Babysitting.

Metallica have released another clip from the upcoming Double DVD "Quebec Magnetic".(out on December 10th) The clip of "The Four Horsemen" comes from a two night stand the band did in October of 2009.  The DVD was directed by Wayne Isham who also directed their videos for "Enter Sandman", "Sad But True", "Fuel" among many others.  Check out the clip and the full track list from "Quebec Magnetic" below:

Track List for "Quebec Magnetic":

01. That Was Just Your Life
02. The End Of The Line
03. The Four Horsemen
04. The Shortest Straw
05. One
06. Broken, Beat & Scarred
07. My Apocalypse
08. Sad But True
09. Welcome Home (Sanitarium)
10. The Judas Kiss
11. The Day That Never Comes
12. Master Of Puppets
13. Battery
14. Nothing Else Matters
15. Enter Sandman
16. Killing Time
17. Whiplash
18. Seek & Destroy

Bonus songs:

19. For Whom The Bell Tolls
20. Holier Than Thou
21. Cyanide
22. Turn The Page
23. All Nightmare Long
24. Damage, Inc.
25. Breadfan
26. Phantom Lord

The surviving members of Led Zeppelin appeared on The Late Show with David Letterman last night after receiving the Kennedy Center Honor from President Obama on Sunday.(Awarded for the substantial contribution to culture and the arts in the United States.  They must have also included hearing loss and sexually transmitted diseases with that)  I think they've already established the fact that they will never play reunite for an tour or record new material together so what could we learn from a Letterman appearance?

1. David Letterman seemed uncharacteristically intimidated by them.

2. John Paul Jones is one funny bastard.

This is the new release from Trent Reznor's post Nine Inch Nails band How To Destroy Angels.  The band also includes Reznor's wife, Mariqueen Mandig, on vocals, and long time collaborators Atticus Ross and Rob Sheridan.  While there are many similarities to the quiet side of NIN, The Omen ep has more of an ambient and at times tribal groove. It still has some of that maddening tension building that Reznor is adept at but overall the edges are smoother.  Headphone(not earbud) listening is highly recommended.


 

Soundgarden made an appearance on the BBC's "Later With Jules Holland" doing "Been Away Too Long" from the upcoming new album King Animal(out November 13) and the classic "Rusty Cage" from Badmotorfinger.  Chris Cornell can still wail like a banshee despite wearing his Grandma's sweater.

 

 

Got this from the @PearlJamOnLine. Thanks guys!  "Non-State Actor" is another track from the new album King Animal which comes out November 13. You can go here formore info.

I'M LOVING IT!!!

 

If they are as well done as the Floyd sets with tons of unreleased stuff and live shows(which were my favorite parts) then I will probably pay up.  But I have a proposal for Mr. Page.  How about letting us fans who have bought these albums three times already trade in our various copies for the new latest remasters.  I know, you're bringing the music to millions of new young fans, and that's great!  Keep it alive for future generations and hopefully they'll put down the One Direction and pick up the Zeppelin.  So how about for us old guys, put the unreleased stuff in one package and we'll just give our kids our old albums.  

Rush has been making great music for the last 44 years but last night they focused mostly on their last 30.  Most likely because Bass player Geddy Lee can’t quite hit those notes from the epic 70’s material.  These guys are getting to retirement age and have no problem making fun of themselves.  Before the meet and greet with Geddy and guitarist Alex Lifeson even their security guys giving the briefing made sure we didn't’t “knock Geddy’s cane out from under him” and “ we have to go back to wake them up because it’s their nap time”.  But their playing was still sharp and concise as it was when I first saw them on the “Signals” tour back in 1982 at the Worcester Centrum(now DCU Center).

In fact it was kind of a flashback as they opened with “Subdivisions” from that album complete with clips from the video of high school kids from the early 80’s.  And that’s where they stayed for the first set: The 80’s.  Occasionally plucking a few songs from the early 90’s like “Dreamline” and the instrumental “Where’s My Thing” from 1991’s “Roll The Bones”.  The 1985 “Power Windows” album had the majority of the first set with the powerful “Big Money”, as well as “Middletown Dreams”, “Grand Designs”, and the epic “Territories”.  “Power Windows” is an album full 80’s fears like nuclear war, out of control banks, and corporate greed.  Stuff we’re still dealing with in the 21st century.  They also pulled out the “Signals” nugget “Analog Kid” with Uber-Baseball fan Geddy Lee throwing in a Red Sox reference.  I thought my head was going to explode. The only diversion from the 80’s/early nineties was the set closer “Far Cry” from the 2007’s “Snakes And Arrows”.  But that was it for their post Y2K/pre- “Clockwork Angels” stuff.

Elvis did it. So did Elton John and Celine Dion.  The Las Vegas residency is a plum gig for any entertainer and Guns N’ Roses have finally made it.  They’ll be right up there with Frank and Dean-O and Siegfried and Roy.  From Halloween through Thanksgiving you’ll be able to see the spectacle at The Joint at The Hard Rock Hotel while sipping a few specially made cocktails mixed up for the occasion.

CBS has announced that they plan on developing a sitcom titled Smells Like Teen Spirit...yes, based on the Nirvana anthem of the same name.  Big Bang Theory writer David Goetsch is one of the creators of the show which focuses on a gifted teen who skips Harvard to launch an internet company from his garage with his sister and best friend.  His parents characters are described as "1990 Indie Rock Parents".  I'm sure once Courtney Love finds out about this the law suits will start flying.  I also wonder how former Nirvana drummer and current Foo Dave Grohl will handle this?  Considering the title of the song came from a Deodorant from the 90's it seems like things have come full circle.  

The Keys and RZA from Wu-Tang have made what I think is a very offensive video for the song "Baddest Man Alive".  No, it's not the violence, or the hot waitress getting her shirt ripped off.  It's the abuse of perfectly good food that really get's my cholesterol boiling.  It's shocking and tragic the way RZA knocks over an entire table of delicious lo-Mein or how Dan Auerbach deems it necessary to wipe out a whole shelf of what looks like roast pork and broccoli.  And I don't even want to talk about what they do to that poor fish.  You know guys, kicking around plates of greasy Chinese food doesn't make you more of a man.  

Despite all that, this song will be on the soundtrack from the upcoming RZA directed film, "The Man With The Iron Fists", which comes out today(10/23).  Hopefully in the film, they'll spend more time beating and killing other people and not the food.

 

Here's the trailer for "The Man With The Iron Fists" which comes out November 2.  It looks pretty bad ass.  You can't go wrong with Lucy Liu kicking ass with a razor blade fan:

 

Guns N' Roses were kind enough to help out The Bridge School this past Saturday by playing an acoustic set at the yearly benefit show put on by Neil Young.  Below are three of the the seven they performed.  There has been a lot of criticism about Axl's voice for this show.  He definitely lacks the visceral bite and hateful attitude that made his voice so distinctive back in the day, but the guy is 50 and no longer sleeping on the floor of a practice space, so those days are gone.  "You're Crazy" still seems to have some of that old piss and vinegar.  Let me know what you think in the comment section below.

 

 

 

The latest news from the Green Day camp is Billy Joe Armstrong might not leave rehab until after Christmas according to Warner Brothers CEO Rob Cavallo.  Drummer Tre Cool says, "I know that my friend's life is in danger and that's all I care about, We're brothers-in-arms waiting for Billie to return healthy, but we're not going to force anything. Tré and I will be standing here for Billie."

I spent my 5 years in the 413 attending North Adams State College(Mass College Of Liberal Arts now) and making an ass out of  myself from Williamstown to Westfield State.  I got my first Radio job at WUPE in Pittsfield playing a lot of Michael Bolton and Patti Labell on the weekends.  Many of the locales featured in this video remind me of how lucky I am to turn "making an ass out of myself" into a career.  VERY lucky.

This is a follow up to the original "413" video from the always uproarious Dr. Westchesterson.  A mysterious Horticulturist with Ninja-like Hip Hop skills.  Please enjoy this calling card from a much maligned yet sublimely beautiful part of the Commonwealth.

Also, Big Ups to my Culinary Master Chefs at Jack's Hot Dog Stand in North Adams, MA "Fit For A King"!

 

The new brew is described by the brewers as a Pale Ale with All American ingredients.  Dogfish Head are getting ready to start the brewing process but need help from you.  They are asking Dead Heads for a final ingredient that will make this ale sweeter than that version of "Dark Star" from Columbus, 1971.  Hmmmm...what would one of the Disciples Of Jerry want mixed in with their beer?  I'm may be going out on a limb here, but I think the number one suggestion would be some sweet, sticky, sparkling, blueberry cornbread toastie smelling Kind Bud.  Or maybe some kind of fungus that induces visions of Mickey Hart and Bill Kreutzman playing huge fluffy kegs of ale.  I hope they release the list of suggestions because it will most likely be hilarious.  They hope to have it ready to go by October, 2013.

Jeff Ament has had a few side projects from Pearl Jam including Three Fish, Tres Mts, some solo releases.  Now he gets RNDM(pronounced Random).  This collaboration is with singer/songwriter Joseph Arthur and long time drum partner Richard Stuverud(Fastbacks, Three Fish).  The three got together for four days at Ament's home state of Montana to record the album "Acts"(out 10/30/12) and will embark on a short tour that will hit The Paradise in Boston on November 7.  In the interview below Jeff talks about the the feeling of the recording sessions, stepping outside of his musical comfort zone, and his love of the Power Trio formation.  And yes PJ fans, he also gives an update on a new album.

 

Here's the video for the track "Modern Times": 

 

Three days of bad weather during this past Summer's Bolton Fair has put organizers in debt and next year's fair in jeopardy.  Bolton Fair President Rose Darden said in a press statement,  "We may be forced to sell the fairgrounds which will mean an end to a 130 year old tradition. We really need the communities’ help."  You can check out the story here.   Tomorrow, you'll be able to keep a Massachusetts tradition alive and support The Bolton Fair by going to the Rock And Blues BBQ Festival at The Lancaster Fairgrounds with live music from some of the areas finest bands and delicious BBQ from Firefly's.  It's rain or shine, BYOB, you can bring blankets, lawn chairs, and coolers to make yourself comfortable.  You can get more info, band schedule, and purchase tickets or donate here.

The James Montgomery Blues Band:

 

 

The latest Rolling Stones collection, "Grrr" comes out 11/3. This song is available now for download.

 

 

The AV Club has been doing their AV: Undercover project for a few years now with some really great results.  You can see most of them here.  Basically they invite bands to the Little Round Room in their office and have them choose from a list of songs to cover.  Thankfully Gwar chose the Kansas classic "Carry On My Wayward Son" and tore it a new asshole.  You can check out the video below.  Amazingly they were able to fit all of the Antarcticans into that small space(including the giant penises)

Yes Oderus, I agree. "Sheer Brilliance!"  You can see Gwar as part of Rock And Shock at The Palladium and DCU Center in Worcester. MA this weekend.  If you do see Gwar watch out for the flying fluids and goo.  Get a full listing of guests and events here.

Sweet Pike's Wheelchair this is hilarious!  It's also done entirely in Klingon.  

For reference, here's the original by Korean artist PSY.  I can't believe this has become as huge as it is!  This video is something right out of William Shatner's Acid addled mind.  

 

 

 

Which is why I love "I Want My MTV" by Rob Tannenbaum and Craig Marks.  It's way more than a nostalgic trip through a silly decade.  It's an amazing oral history of the birth of what some of it's founders called an "asinine idea" and the incredible odds that were against it.  In the interview below I talk to Rob Tannenbaum about how MTV not only changed music but popular culture and some of the more debauched behind the scenes stories of blow jobs(involving a local Massachusetts artist), boozing, and what the majority of people he interviewed think is the worst music video ever made.(again, involving a local Mass musician.) 

 

Hit the play button to listen:

 

Here's a sample of what some have called the greatest advertising campaign of all time.  "I Want My MTV" overloaded cable operator's switchboards and forced them to pick up the channel.  

 

 

Let me preface by saying I'm a Green Day fan.  I don't everything they've done is amazing but I like the majority of it and they know how to deliver live.  But I'm suspicious about this Billie Joe Armstrong meltdown at a festival in Las Vegas last Friday.(see the video below)  Is it Punk Rock attitude or just another Rock Star routine?  

I've seen a few meltdowns and walk offs at shows in the past.(some where they should've walked off too)   Steven Tyler passing out mid-song, Billy Corgan getting hit in the face with toilet paper and ending the show 5 songs in.  I saw The Greg Allman Band stop a show after two songs to "take a break" and then come back 30 minutes later with amazing verve which I'm sure had nothing to do with any kind of controlled substance.  That's part of the excitement of seeing a band live, the spontaneous reactions to certain situations which hopefully add to the performance or at least make it weird.  In my opinion a good band will plow through any unfriendly situations and blast it out to the end.  Green Day are a veteran band that have played in much worse situations I'm sure.  

Don't get me wrong.  If Mr. Armstrong has substance abuse problems then I wish him nothing but the best of luck in his battles with it.  I can't help but think though, Green Day has the first album of a trilogy coming out tomorrow(9/25/12) and this incident as well as his entry into Rehab seems to attract attention to the band at a convenient time.  I have never struggled with addiction(to the level of having to seek medical help) nor have I ever been in a multi-platinum band with the pressure to top everything that they have accomplished every time they record or play live.    I'm not married to Billy's wife or have to deal with the rest of the band.  If this is real then I'm a cynical asshole and owe an apology to Billie Joe Armstrong and his family.  But as the saying goes, "Any press is good press."  Just ask Led Zeppelin or Madonna.  So, am I just paranoid or am I just stoned?

 

This performance is from America: A Tribute To Heroes which aired September 21, 2001.  All the major networks got together with George Clooney and were able to broadcast messages and performances from some of the world's biggest artists(at that time) to try to raise money and send a message of mourning and hope.  The event raised over $200 Million Dollars for the United Way September 11th Telethon Fund.  

This performance from Eddie Vedder and Mike McCready from Pearl Jam with Neil Young on organ is my favorite.  Music can excite, elate, and provoke anger and sadness.  But it can also calm.      



I'm glad they are rebuilding on the site of the fallen towers.  It let's the rest of the world know we will only get back up and be even better.  That's how I handle the memories of that terrible day.  It's hard for me to talk about it.  Every September 11th I just go about my day.  Work, Family, Love, Life.  Just like the people that died in the Towers, The Pentagon, on those planes.  They were going to work, trying to get it done, for whatever goals or dreams they had.  This day, and every day,  I try to be the best American I can.  To me that means showing the people who supported the attacks that even though we took a hit, you can't stop us from moving forward.