Tuesday, July 29, 2008

AC/DC To Kick Off World Tour in Chicago? On Halloween?

by Myche

I hope this is true. Tickets are probably going to be tough to get - I know so many people that have been waiting for this.

Until then...

Friday, July 25, 2008

Tomorrow Night We're Going To Party Like It's 1979...

by Myche

Tomorrow night, the Mothership descends on Wrigleyville. If you're not doing anything, I suggest you fire up a spliff and head down to the Cubby Bear at 10pm. George Clinton/Parliament/Funkadelic will do the rest.

If this isn't the greatest stage prop ever, then I don't know what is...

Wednesday, July 23, 2008

Manowar Video Challenge

by Myche

Let me preface by saying that I like Manowar. Yes, they are over-the-top and completely ridiculous. But I can't help having fun with it. Plus, I will defend any day the merits of Eric Adams' chops - he can kick it out...

So here's the challenge: See how long you can keep a straight face while watching this video.

1. Before starting the video below get serious - totally deadpan.
2. Play video (you must have the audio up as well).
3. Try not to smile.
4. Note the elapsed time of the video if/once you smile and post it in the comments section.

I would think that if the video doesn't get you, the audio will.

I can't get past 0:40.

I want my 4:26 back

Jesus, this interviewer is BAD.

Tuesday, July 22, 2008

MP3 Randomization: 07-22-08

My trusty old Creative Zen Xtra mp3 player bit the dust last week after five years of trusty service. It was my first mp3 player, so it will always hold a special place in my heart. What kind of sucks is that the only thing wrong with it is that the headphone jack doesn't work. I had been having problems with it for a while, but would just have to jostle the input to make it work. But finally it just gave out (after I dropped it, I think). Anyway, I got a new Zune, so I wanted to break it in on the randomization thing. Plus, I've been spending hours getting this thing loaded up how I want it - might as well do something with it. The fact that I've doubled the amount of memory I have now should make for some good randoms when I get it fully loaded. I think this is a day earlier than usual, but what the heck.

MYCHE

Scorpions "321"
Cheap Trick "Writing On The Wall"
Cheap Trick "Carnival Game"
Clutch "Worm Drink"
Fish "Family Business"
Deep Purple "Why Didn't Rosemary?"

WAYNE (using my same old iPod)

Clouds "New Amnesia"
At the Gate "Cold"
Thin Lizzy "The Boys Are Back in Town"
Foo Fighters "Watershed"
Bill Hicks "Wizards Have Landed"
White Stripes "Hello Operator"

MARK
Prince "17 Days"
Tom Waits "More than Rain"
Sly & the Family Stone "M'Lady"
Bob Mould "Sinners and their Repentances"
Imagika "Evil's Rising
Wu-Tang Clan "It's Yourz"

Thursday, July 17, 2008

Ah, Random

Today was an excellent random day that must be posted. Even though the penchant of my ZUNE to love Mercenary and play "11 Dreams" ALOT, it still does a pretty good job of making the random truly random.

Today I had the one two punch of

Two Minutes to Midnight By Maiden off Powerslave into...
Two Minutes to Midnight off of Live After Death.

I cracked up out loud....

Well done.

Damn right I listened to them both....

Monday, July 14, 2008

Hook of the Day - Radiohead "House of Cards"

This video rules. Made not with cameras, but lasers.

Nice.

Friday, July 11, 2008

Are You A Psycho Fan?

by Myche

I think I am officially a psycho Queensryche fan. Yes, I have all of their CDs. All their DVDs. I go see them whenever they come to Chicago, but have also driven to Milwaukee, Merrillville, and Fort Wayne to see them. But I just did something that takes the cake.

I just bought wine futures of Geoff Tate's Insania Wine.

"Created by Geoff Tate of Queensryche and Three Rivers Winemaker Holly Turner, Insania is a blend of 60% Cabernet Sauvignon, 20% Petit Verdot, 15% Merlot and 5% Malbec. This wine will not be bottled and shipped until February 2009 so Insania is only available by advance purchase at this time. Production is around 200 cases." (Further reading at http://neufutur.com/?p=3216)

I read this and don't think twice. I gotta get me some. I like wine a lot (and really dig a lot that come from the Pacific Northwest) and I like Queensryche and Geoff Tate a lot. This is a perfect marriage of two awesome things, bottled for me to savor.

So four bottles will be coming my way next year. I'll report back. I wonder what Geoff Tate wine will taste like? I'll open one to drink for sure, but will likely end up with one that I never uncork.

Yes, I'm a psycho fan.

Confession Booth: Have you listened to the new Judas Priest yet?

Fess up, Hooks So Biguns, have you taken the time to listen to Judas Priest's new album, Nostradamus, in it's entirety?


WAYNE
Does 6 songs count as "in it's entirety"? (pause) Then no, no I haven't.

MYCHE
I think I've heard two songs. And didn't listen that closely. I really should. My expectations are now so low that I just might be surprised. But sadly, just last night I saw "Angel Of Retribution" sitting on my CD rack, untouched for many, many months. Can't say I've been blown away from new Priest material as of lately...

Mark

Nope

MP3 Randomization: 7-11-2008

WAYNE

Dillinger Escape Plan "Black Bubblegum"
Daft Punk "Robot Rock"
Metallica "The Struggle Within"
Pig Destroyer "4th Degree Burns"
Foo Fighters "Generator"
Nine Inch Nails "Meet Your Master"

MYCHE

Zimmers Hole "The Hole Is The Law"
The Ocean "Rhyacian"
W.A.S.P. "Animal (Fuck Like A Beast)"
High On Fire "Waste Of Tiamat"
Greg Brown "Steady Love"
The Band "This Wheel's On Fire"

MARK
The Ocean "Calymmian"
The Myracle Brah "Going Crazy"
Boston "Foreplay / Long Time"
Blackstreet "No Diggity"
Built to Spill "Out of Site"
In Flames "Episode 666"

Bad News for Myche + Mark, Great News for Wayne



Nice. Lamb of God frontman Randy Blythe will make a guest appearance on the next Gojira record on a track called "Adoration for None."


Thursday, July 10, 2008

Hook of the Day - Amon Amarth "The Pursuit of Vikings"

by Myche

Amon Amarth have announced the following concert dates with Ensiferum, Belphegor and The Absence, so get your ass ready:

October
1 - House Of Blues - Anaheim, CA
2 - The Avalon - Los Angeles, CA
3 - Slim's - San Francisco, CA
4 - Hawthorne Theatre - Portland, OR
5 - El Corazon - Seattle, WA
6 - Croatian Culture Centre - Vancouver, BC
8 - The Starlite Room - Edmonton, AB
9 - The Warehouse - Calgary, AB
10 - Ridell Centre - Regina, SK
11 - The Garrick Centre - Winnipeg, MB
12 - Station 4 - St. Paul, MN
13 - House Of Blues - Chicago, IL
15 - Phoenix Concert Theatre - Toronto, ON
16 - Le Medley - Montreal, QC, Canada
17 - Theatre Imperial - Quebec City, QC
18 - The Palladium - Worcester, MA
19 - Trocadero - Philadelphia, PA
20 - The Fillmore at Irving Plaza - New York, NY
21 - Jaxx, W - Springfield, VA

Wednesday, July 09, 2008

Monday, July 07, 2008

Coming Soon On DVD(s): Complete Concert + Bonus Footage

by Myche

Wow. I have nothing to add to this article - it lays it all out there. Courtesy of Maria Vassileva from Sofiaecho.com.


Review: MANOWAR Goes For Guinness Record With Five-Hour Concert
Posted on Monday, July 07, 2008 at 11:04:53 EST

The concert of the legendary kings of metal, MANOWAR, on the opening night of Kaliakra Rock Festival 2008 in the Bulgarian “rock capital” of Kavarna on July 5 lasted for five hours and one minute. The performance was the metal band's attempt to break the world record for the longest heavy metal concert, which they themselves set in 2007 at last year's edition of the festival.

Joey DeMaio, Eric Adams, Karl Logan and Scott Columbus pleased a crowd of 20,000 people with a playlist of more than 40 songs, a selection reflecting the band's history and all its studio albums.

This year, the self-anointed "kings of metal" had promised Bulgarian fans to beat last year’s performance of three hours on stage, and had specially invited representatives of Guinness book of records to witness the unprecedented event.

Hundreds of fans of the legendary band have been waiting for their arrival at Kaliakra Stadium ever since 10am to pour inside in a frantic hurry to the stage after the gates were opened.

As was the case last year, the audience was warmed up by HOLYHELL, the power metal band produced by Joey DeMaio, performing tracks from their upcoming debut album and cover versions of classic hits by AEROSMITH and DIO.

At 9.49pm, Manowar came out. The band began with classic hits from their earliest albums such as 'Heavy Metal Daze', 'Fast Taker', 'Death Tone', 'Dark Avenger', 'Carry On', 'Kings Of Metal' and many others.

“Bulgaria, we devote this concert to you,” the informal leader and main songwriter of the legendary band, Joey DeMaio, said during the pauses between back-to-back hits. “Where it is written in Guinness’ book of records about the longest heavy metal concert, it will be written that this was the concert of Manowar in Bulgaria,” he said. The bassist added that Bulgaria was the place where people knew how to enjoy true heavy metal music.

At the peak of the concert, a classical string orchestra and a choir of the Sofia Philharmonics joined the musicians in performing some of their greatest hits, among which Warriors of the World, Hail and Kill, and Defender. In front of the Bulgarian audience, Manowar presented for the first time their new single, Die with Horror.

With the concert approaching its end, Kavarna mayor Tsonko Tsonev, known as “the metal mayor”, congratulated the group and thanked them for performing in his town. Manowar promised to return to Kavarna whenever they were invited.

As a sign of gratitude towards Bulgarian fans, the legendary band once again performed the Bulgarian anthem, continuing afterwards with a classical symphonic ballad, The Crown and the Ring, under the sparks of fireworks.

When the last sounds of the song subsided, after four and a half hours of non-stop performance, Manowar announced that a new record had been set. Fans began to leave as lights illuminated Kaliakra stadium. However, the kings of metal returned for another thirty minutes to the surprise and delight of their admirers.

Saturday, July 05, 2008

The Baddest Motherfucker in the World

Eat shit, Dark Knight....when can I get my advanced tickets for THIS?

Hook of the Day - Dire Straits "Down to the Waterline"

I just read RollingStone.com's Honorable Mentions addition to their recent 100 Greatest Guitar Songs list, and what should I find on there but Dire Straits' "Down to the Waterline." I'm here to tell you I support said inclusion, and to say that if you haven't heard this gorgeous piece of guitarwork, then do it right here and now.

I'm in love with Mark Knopfler's guitar tone.

That's right, I said it. I'm in love with a guitar tone.

--WG



Friday, July 04, 2008

Hook of the day! Happy fourth of July, yo




This song would have been TOTALLY going through my head when the Revolutionary War started.

Thursday, July 03, 2008

Shit Yeah! of the Day II: Electric Boogaloo

I'll be honest. This week started off generally sucking serious rhino balls. But then, TP and Heartbreakers went and ruled at United Center last night, and now today is just all of a sudden music heaven.

I was taking a break from trying to sweet talk my beard into giving a really hard effort into ZZ Rubin territory, and scanned RollingStone.com for a spell, and discovered that we're soon to be treated to a.....

BB King album....produced by T-Bone Burnett...with a focus on playing the way he did in the '50s.

We're getting a little spoiled here. I'm going to start feeling like we should get a Mars Volta album the way they played before they went up their own asses.

Zing.

Myche's Stoned Ramblings From Last Night's Trouble Concert

by Myche

So I went to the Trouble concert last night at Nite Cap completely baked. This was the first Chicago appearance with new singer Korey Clarke. I went into the night thinking that I would go to a show of a Trouble tribute band, so this was kind of the same except it had 4/5 of the actual band. The band sounded great as usual, but definitely looked to be compensating for the absence of ex-lead singer, Eric Wagner. Clarke did a pretty good job on vocals, and for the most part I was pleased. Definitely a warm-up show as Clarke had to reference lyrics written out by his feet for a lot of the songs. Kind of weird, but I guess what do you expect? It was kind of interesting to watch. But as I said before, I was high.

Below are the mostly unedited notes I took during the show. All comments pertain to the band that came out before Trouble (Stoneface Nation, which I read this morning that it was the first show with their new lead singer. I thought they rocked well, by the way. A picture of the band is below, the singer/lead guitarist is the guy on the right.).

Photobucket

I may need to get high again to understand a few of these points, and I apoligize to everyone else ahead of time for this nonsense. If you were there with me (and hopefully stoned as well) these are the things I would have said into your ear during the set - they would have made much more sense in that context. But what the hell, I thought I would share! Here goes:

I'm pretty sure this guy thinks he's rocking your ass off (they are pretty good)

Only 60 people are at this show on a Wednesday night, seems small - but then again, there are 60 people in your area that are there just like you

A song unknown to me that the band probably unanimously selected as THE SONG to open with

Walk up and cut distance to stage in half (update: then do it a second time)

The guy who pulls out a Doro tour shirt tonight (was it selected special for this show or is today just another day?) (update: a fresh 2008 tour shirt, no less)

Is it even possible to count on a good conversation coming out of an inquiry "so you like Doro, huh?"

The band is kind of rocking my ass right now so I should stop typing

Stoneface Nation, by the way

The singer could don viking gear and quickly transform into something very appropriate (update: first guy I see the next morning at the elevator at work looks like he could be the singer's dad. Seriously.)

They play UFO's "Shoot Shoot" like they mean business

At first I thought the singer/lead guitarist was wearing blue cotton sweatpants - would that be wrong?

The (bigger) smirk on the singer's face as he watches the one guy going nuts in front is either that he likes what he knows (knows the guy and likes him) or that he knows what he likes

End with a doom version of "Sgt. Pepper", then go into a doom version of "I Am The Walrus". Bold.

First song at break is Motorhead's "Motorhead" (live, I think). Nice.

Shit Yeah! of the Day

Billboard.com reports that ZZ Top has signed a new record deal with Rick Rubin's American Recordings imprint on Columbia Records. The band will do a new album with Rubin at the helm with the goal of (you got your diapers on?) cutting an album "more in keeping with "La Grange"-era ZZ Top than its pop-friendly '80s sound."

You know what I like about this?

EVERYTHING (especially the thought of three of the greatest beards of all time in one room)

A haw, haw, haw, haw.

--Wayne



MP3 Randomization: 7-3-2008

WAYNE

Queensryche "Gonna Get Close to You"
Melvins "The Bloated Pope (live)"
Willie Nelson "Mamas, Don't Let Your Babies Grow Up To Be Cowboys"
John Lennon "I'm Losing You"
Nachtmystium "Code Negative"
KISS "Sweet Pain"

MYCHE

George Jones "The One I Loved Then"
Ian Gillan "Bad News"
Bob Dylan "Pledging My Time"
Thin Lizzy "Do Anything You Want To"
Marillion "Punch & Judy"
Dwight Yoakam "Gone (That'll Be Me)"

Hook of the Day - Blind Faith "Can't Find My Way Home"

Last night's Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers show at United Center in Chicago was beyond excellent, thanks for asking. I'll try and get some thoughts fleshed out soon, but I'll report for now that opener Steve Winwood did indeed come out and play a couple of numbers with Tom and Company, one of which was the so-beautiful-it-fucking-hurts Blind Faith classic "Can't Find My Way Home." Once YouTube provides a decent clip from the show, we'll drop it by.

For now, here's the original.

---Wayne


Tuesday, July 01, 2008

Hook of the Day - Alice Cooper "The Ballad of Dwight Fry"

by Myche

I've been listening to a lot of Alice lately. Don't know why I have shelved him for so long. I'm also seeing how much influence he's had on King Diamond, W.A.S.P. and others. This is a great song, and, of course, a theatrical performance.