Sebastian Bach: Not One For Doing Things Half-Assed

Will the worst Photoshop job on a metal album cover please step forward? Nnnnnnnot so fast, Iron Maiden’s Dance of Death

Concert Notes: Manowar - 03/12/11, Agora Theatre, Cleveland, OH

by Myche

First, my unedited notes that I took the night of the show:

Opening band Holy Hell - count the bad signs:

* dumb band name
* chick singer
* chick singer who smiles a lot and tries to do a lot of "metal" things
* male band members take themselves way too seriously
* keyboardist
* keyboardist with keyboards turned so we can see him play
* need I continue?

I'm shocked at how polite the Manowar crowd is being to this band. Cleveland thing?

I just looked back and one of the soundguys was nodding off. Bad sign.

Actually, nodded off. Literally asleep.

Best denim metal vest ever: so many patches they overlap. I see Krokus, KISS, Sabbath, Savatage, Megadeth, Circle Jerks, Morbid Angel, Anthrax, Loudness, hell...everyone.

Manowar tattoo on someone's forehead.

Sign of the Hammer graduation cap (homemade - pretty sure not at merch table)?

There's a guy here with a big plastic sword, with, of course, blood dripping on the tip (fake and painted on, I would presume).

A white manowar shirt is not right. Two guys together wearing the same one is even worse. On purpose, or when the one guy picked up the other guy did they both look at each other and say "oh fuck?"

Keyboardist has one electronic drum that he punches from time to time.

The five biggest fans of this band are on stage right now...

I take that back - one electric cymbal.

They just said "good night" but are playing one more. The keyboardist is pumping up the crowd with a keytar.

Oh my, they are doing Holy Diver.

The guitarist looked like Nikki Sixx, but older and more worn out.

(For Hanner - the singer looked like Meredith Voller)

I took no notes while Manowar was on. I couldn't stop smiling. Had to be one of the most fun old school metal shows I've ever seen.

At one point I was standing next to probably the two tallest guys there. Thank god they weren't in front of me.

The guy next to me was such a metal specimen. Had to be every bit of 6'6", dark, vikingesque, long hair, and freaking arms as big as my thighs. When I had my arms raised and he did, his were at least a foot higher. He was into it. Looked like a nice guy, but I would have expected him to speak monosyllabically.

I never saw him talk through the whole show, and we never gestured to each other, but did bump each other a couple times while pumping fists, etc. I was not worried that he would be bothered by my bumps - probably didn't even feel them.

After the show, they played some majestic Manowar song and most people stayed and sang along. It was pretty intense. Then after that the big guy turns and we clasp fists - "great show" I say. One of the guys he's with is teary-eyed. I walk away a bit and the big guy has his head down on the rail by the soundboard where we were standing. Exhausted? Emotional? Doesn't matter...

Additional Notes - 03/14/11

Not a ton to add, but thought I would add a little color on the Manowar show itself:

* Joey tells crowd to stop crowd surfing or, I think, he would kick somebody's ass. Did the trick.

* Battle Hymns in entirety, but slightly out of order. Can't blame them for kicking things off with the song "Manowar."

* First song after Battle Hymns is "Brothers of Metal", one of my faves.

* I knew a lot more of the songs that they played than I thought I would, but learned each unfamiliar one pretty well by the end the song.

* Bass solo w/ Battle Hymns William Tell overture - awesome.

* Guitar solo ending with guitarist dropping to his knees and laying all the way back - I've seen that on a DVD and it hurts MY knees every time.

* As I've seen on a DVD - Joey pulls off each of his bass strings and gives them to crowd members. Mostly women I think, as one he mouthed "I'm going to fuck you."

* As a first-time audience member of a Manowar show, I would have to say that it was a great setlist. You got what you wanted: anthems out the wazoo.

* Most of the songs played had the words Heavy, Metal, Loud, Kill, and of course Manowar. It's easy to poke fun at this, but you know, it works for me. Thankfully not every band out there does this, but I doubt any band does it better than Manowar...

Happy Birthday Hook of the Day: Metallica "Master of Puppets"

Happy 25th Birthday, "Master of Puppets"

You're still the baddest motherfucker on the block!

Hook of the Day - Prince "Kicking Kim Kardashian Offstage for Not Dancing"

Every time a fat bottom girl gets on stage with Prince and doesn't dance, an angel loses its wings.

Heavy Rotation: 2-7-2011

WAYNE

1. The Secret - "Solve Et Coagula"
2. The Red Chord - "Clients", "Fused Together in Revolving Doors" and "Fed Through the Teeth Machine"
3. the collected works of Trap Them
4. Belphegor - "Blood Magick Necromance"
5. Owen Hart - "Earth Control"
6. Slough Feg - "The Animal Spirits"

MARK

1. Iron Maiden "The Final Frontier"
2. Iron Maiden "A Matter of Life and Death"
3. Iron Maiden "The Number of the Beast"
4. Amon Amarth "Twilight of the Thunder God"
5. Chaka Kahn "Epiphany"
6. Kanye West "My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"

MYCHE

1. Greg Brown
2. David Bowie
3. Syl Johnson
4. Graham Central Station
5. Y&T
6. Van Morrison

Hook of the Day: Iron Maiden "Killers"

Just read on Invisible Oranges that Maiden's Killers turned dirty 30 yesterday. So, that's roughly a decade older than the floppy haired, neck tattooed deathcore choads who think they sound rough, but would still get sliced to ribbons in a knife fight with this album.

Hook of the Day: Immortal "Grim and Frostbitten Kingdoms"

Maybe this is just Chicago's sudden resemblance to Blashyrkh talking here, but I'm almost positive that I just saw Abbath coming out of Dominick's with bread, cheese, ten cans of tuna, two half gallons of Almond Milk, and the latest issue of Wired Magazine. Either that or the Roger's Park hipsterati has chosen its new look.

Hook of the Day: Amon Amarth "War of the Gods"

As Chicago prepares for a massive snowstorm, my first order of the day was to prepare a hot cup of coffee in my French press and sit down to enjoy NPR's free stream of the excellent new Earth album. It's a lovely work, full of space and texture and nuance. I looked out the window and took in the dusting of snow on the ground, and went inside myself. Took stock of myself and my place in the world as my birthday approaches in a few short days. It was a nice hour to get the day started off on the right foot.

My second order of business was to finally get around to checking out the new Amon Amarth track. And now all I can contemplate is how much I'd love to chop off some fuckin' heads with a ridiculously huge battle axe while flaming arrows whiz by all around me. I can see Lake Michigan from my window. The second I see a Viking longboat appear in the distance, I'm pointing the speakers out the open window and shit's gonna get real.

Now if you'll excuse me, I'm gonna go put this bastard on a loop and play God of War III at the same time. If all goes well, my Rich Little head will do his killer Scanners impression. (Which pretty much sounds like Ronald Reagan, like all the other bits.)

Amon Amarth "War of the Gods" by Metal Blade Records

Hook of the Day: Crowbar "Cemetery Angels"

Looks like someone found the "Scratched n' Dirty Grindhouse Film" setting on the video editing software.

Best of 2010

WAYNE

Albums:

1. Deftones - Diamond Eyes
2. Ghost - Opus Eponymous
3. Kvelertak - self-titled
4. Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier
5. Black Breath - Heavy Breathing
6. High on Fire - Snakes for the Divine

Honorable Mention (alphabetical)
Agalloch - Marrow of the Spirit
Intronaut - Valley of Smoke
Ludicra - The Tenant
Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones



Live Shows:
1. Roger Waters performs the Wall at United Center
2. Iron Maiden at First Midwest Bank Amphitheatre
3. Black Tusk every damn time they played Chicago (but particularly opening for Weedeater at Reggie's)
4. Rush at Northerly Island
5. American Carnage with Slayer, Megadeth, and Testament
6. Ozzfest with Ozzy, Motley Crue, Halford, Goatwhore, Skeletonwitch, etc.


MARK

Albums:

1. Kanye West - My Beautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy
2. Iron Maiden - The Final Frontier
3. Y & T - Facemelter
4. Dawnbringer - Nucleus
5. Ben Folds and Nick Hornby - Lonely Avenue
6. Erykah Badu - New Amerykah Part 2- Return of the Ankh

Live Shows:

1. Devin Townsend Lincoln Hall
2. Idina Menzel
3. Iron Maiden
4. Queensryche
5. Suzanne Vega
6. Scorpions


MYCHE

Albums:

1. Richard Thompson – Dream Attic
2. The Sword – Warp Riders
3. Accept – Blood of the Nations
4. Y&T – Facemelter
5. Gil Scott-Heron – I’m New Here
6. Triptykon - Eparistera Daimones

Live Shows:

1. Devin Townsend @ Lincoln Hall
2. High and Lonesome @ The Mill, Iowa City, IA
3. Bob Mould @ Old Town School of Folk Music
4. John Doe @ Schuba’s
5. Greg Brown @ SPACE
6. Texas Tornados @ Old Town School of Folk Music

Honorable Mentions (chronologically): Project/Object @ Martyrs’, Merle Haggard/Kris Kristofferson @ Rosemont Theatre, Rush @ Charter One, Ugly Radio Rebellion @ Reggie’s Music Joint, Loudon Wainwright @ SPACE, Iron Maiden @ First Midwest, Black Cobra/Howl/Struck By Lightning/Hunters @ Empty Bottle, Roger Waters @ United Center, Joe Price @ Buddy Guy’s, Accept/King’s X @ Arcada Theatre, Nevermore @ The Rave, Richard Thompson @ Vic Theatre

51 shows in 2010, hereafter to be referred to as “The Year.” I don’t think this one will ever be topped. It was just incredible. It was very hard to pick my Top 6. #1-5 were nothing short of magical, and I’m not sure I’ve ever smiled, sang out loud and slapped my leg more at a show than #6. Some of the honorable mentions could have topped my list in a normal year. Given the magnitude of the year, I need to make some other special mentions:

Best opening band: Black Tusk (opened on three shows, and kicked ass every time), King’s X (I’ve tried to get into them 2-3 times before to no avail – their live show clinched it)

Best surprise setlist for me, but lots of people bitched: Iron Maiden (play as much off Brave New World as you want – so glad I didn’t peek at setlists before the show!)

Why you don’t miss shows from one of your favorite bands: Y&T at Melodic Rock Fest – tickets were expensive and the rest of the bands were awful, but it turned out to be the last time Mark and I will see Phil Kennemore play live. So long, pal, you will be missed.

Heavy Rotation: 12-21-2010

WAYNE

1. Deftones - "Diamond Eyes"
2. Dio - "Donington UK: Live 1983 & 1987"
3. Black Breath - "Heavy Breathing"
4. Ludicra - "The Tenant"
5. Kylesa - "Spiral Shadow"
6. The Red Chord - "Clients"

MARK

1. Dawnbringer "Nucleus"
2. Cee-lo Green is the Soul Machine
3. Michael Jackson "Thriller"
4. SlipKnot "Vol 3"
5. Iron Maiden "The Final Frontier"
6. Kvelertak

MYCHE

1. Captain Beefheart
2. Dave Moore
3. Jamey Johnson "The Guitar Song"
4. Eddie Hinton
5. Waylon Jennings
6. David Zollo

Heavy Rotation : 12-13-2010

WAYNE

1. Ghost - "Opus Eponymous"
2. Kvelertak - S/T
3. Tool - "Aenima"
4. Iron Maiden - "The Final Frontier"
5. Trap Them - "Seizures in Barren Praise"
6. Angel Witch - S/T

MARK

1. Kanye West "My Deautiful Dark Twisted Fantasy"
2. Michael Jackson "Thriller"
3. Gojira "The Way of All Flesh"
4. Mos Def "The Ecstatic"
5. Bette Midler "Cool Yule"
6. Iron Maiden "the Final Frontier"

MYCHE

1. Doug Sahm "Live in Austin"
2. Jamey Johnson "The Guitar Song"
3. The Sword "Warp Riders"
4. Waylon Jennings
5. Nick Drake
6. Allen Toussaint "The Great Mississippi"

Heavy Rotation: 11-30-2010

WAYNE

1. Ghost - "Opus Eponymous"
2. U.S. Christmas - "Run Thick in the Night"
3. Rotting Christ - "Thy Mighty Contract"
4. The Crown - "Doomsday King"
5. Satyricon - "Nemesis Divina"
6. Darkthrone - "Transilvanian Hunger"

MARK

1. KANYE WEST - "My Dark Twisted Fantasy" and it's B-sides
2. Two awesome Hip Hop compliations my friend Arbrea gave me
3. Ben Folds - "Lonely Avenue"
4. Joni Mitchell - "Blue"
5. Rihanna - "LOUD"
6. Stone Sour - "Audio Secrecy"

MYCHE

1. David Zollo "The Big Night"
2. Richard Thompson "Henry The Human Fly"
3. Grizzly Man Soundtrack (Richard Thomspon)
4. Preservation Hall Jazz Band
5. Willie Nelson
6. The Chariot "Long Live"

Heavy Rotation: 11-21-2010

WAYNE

1. lots and lots of Immortal
2. Nasum - "Human 2.0"
3. Melechesh - "The Epigenesis"
4. Mercyful Fate - "Don't Break the Oath" & "Melissa"
5. Kvelertak - S/T
6. The Ocean - "Anthropocentric"

MARK

1. Ben Folds and Nick Hornby "Lonely Avenue"
2. Ceelo-Green "The lady Killer"
3. Beyonce "I am... Sasha Fierce"
4. Commodores "The Ultimate Motherfucking Collection"
5. Iron Maiden "The Final Frontier"
6. Idina Menzel "I Stand"

Sorry about my lack of metal....Not sorry about the good stuff on my list.

MYCHE

1. My Queensryche Top 25 from 4-27-10 playlist
2. Brian Eno "Ambient 1"
3. Nick Drake
4. Jeff Beck "Who Else"
5. Bill Evans
6. Nick Cave "The Boatman's Call"

Heavy Rotation 11-15-2010

WAYNE

1. Def Leppard - "High n Dry", "Pyromania" , and "Hysteria"
2. Crowbar - S/T
3. Deathspell Omega - "Paracletus"
4. Death Angel - "Relentless Revolution"
5. Black Breath - "Heavy Breathing"
6. Cloudkicker - "Beacons"

MARK

1. Def Leppard - "High n Dry", "Pyromania" , and "Hysteria"
2. Ben Folds "Lonely Avenue"
3. Beyonce "I am Sasha Fierce
4. Kool and the Gang "Wild and Peaceful"
5. Devin Townsend
6. Stone Sour "Audio Secrecy"

MYCHE

1. My mother-in-law's flute solo at the Athens Symphony 11-13-10 (she's very good)
2. Marisa's grandmother's recorded performance of "Silent Night" (she was a very good pianist)
3. Richard Thompson "Shoot Out The Lights"
4. Bill Evans
5. Keith Jarrett
6. My New Orleans-inspired playlist

Heavy Rotation 11-8-2010

WAYNE

1. Devin Townsend
2. Judas Priest "Sin After Sin"
3. Kylesa "Spiral Shadow"
4. Agalloch "Marrow of the Spirit"
5. Woe "Quietly, Undramatically"
6. Tank "Filth Hounds of Hades"

MYCHE

1. Devin Townsend (afterglow in effect)
2. Sanctuary's two albums
3. Bob Dylan: The Bootleg Series Vol. 9
4. Raul Malo "Sinners & Saints"
5. Big Star's first two albums
6. King's X

Mark
1. Devin Townsend
2. Queensryche "Live Evolution"
3. Iced Earth "gettysburg"
4. Michael Jackson "Thriller"
5. Iron Maiden "The Fianl Fronteir"
6. Suzanne Vega "99.9 deg"

Heavy Rotation

Here's what we've been chowin' down on lately:

WAYNE

1. Pantera "Cowboys from Hell - 20th Anniversary Edition"
2. Judas Priest "Unleashed in the East"
3. Black Anvil "Triumvirate"
4. Dokken "Under Lock and Key"
5. Kylesa "Spiral Shadow"
6. Venom "Welcome to Hell"

MYCHE

1. Gregory Isaacs (R.I.P.)
2. Accept "Blood of the Nations"
3. King's X early albums
4. Devin Townsend
5. The Sword "Warp Riders"
6. Love (I was reading a biography on them, so listened to them as my soundtrack)

Mark

1. Devin Townsend
2. Iron Maiden "The Final Frontier" (still)
3. Bang Camaro's two albums
4. Def Leppard "High n'Dry"
5. Chilling Thrilling sounds of the Haunted House.
6. Mos Def "The Ecstatic"

Hooks Ranking: Iron Maiden "The Final Frontier"

So look what we have here, a new feature here on Hooks! We take an album and each of us ranks the songs. Then we take an aggregate of all of our lists and show that list. Now, the aggregate does have its limitations: there is no consideration for "non-linear" love or hate from a song. In other words, each song gets the value of its rank from each person, we add up all three, then rank them from the lowest score to the highest. But I think it works pretty well.

I think it's interesting to look at rankings like these. We all love Iron Maiden, and all think this album is great - but for slightly different reasons. That's what I love about music. So subjective...

MARK

Mother of Mercy
When the Wild Wind Blows
Coming Home
The Talisman
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
Isle of Avalon
The Man Who Would Be King
El Dorado
Starblind
The Alchemist

WAYNE

Mother of Mercy
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
Isle of Avalon
When the Wild Wind Blows
The Man Who Would Be King
Starblind
Coming Home
El Dorado
The Talisman
The Alchemist

MYCHE

Isle of Avalon
Coming Home
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
The Talisman
Mother of Mercy
El Dorado
When the Wild Wind Blows
The Alchemist
The Man Who Would Be King
Starblind

AGGREGATE

Mother of Mercy
Isle of Avalon
Satellite 15...The Final Frontier
Coming Home
When the Wild Wind Blows
The Talisman
The Man Who Would Be King
El Dorado
Starblind
The Alchemist

Rock n' Roll Hall of Oversights

by Myche

Every year when the Rock n' Roll Hall of Fame names their nominees it seems there's more heated discussion about who's not on the list than who is. On one hand, I believe that for the most part the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame has gotten a lot right - you just can't argue with most of that list. But no doubt they have blown it over the years. What really ticked me off is when I read that they were considering reducing the minimum amount of time between an artist's first release and induction from 25 to 20 years because they thoguht there was going to be a lull coming up soon. All they want to do is make the induction show more "interesting" and "popular" by having younger acts inducted. They shouldn't be focusing on adding anybody that came out after 1990 with all those people they have looked over in the past.

I also have a problem with some younger bands getting in before older bands that were huge influences on them and their genre. Good for Metallica for getting in, but they shoudl have waited until several other hard rock/metal artists got in: Alice Cooper (who is on this year's list of nominees), Deep Purple, Judas Priest, Motorhead, Iron Maiden, and Dio.

So I have a solution. Someone should start a Rock n' Roll Hall of Oversights. Have about ten artists inducted from the start, then follow the same rules as the Hall of Fame and add about five or so a year thereafter. Then, if the Hall of Fame ever gets it right and inducts one of the Oversight members - have a special "De-induction" feature at the Oversight. I bet there would be years when the induction of the Oversight Hall would be more interesting than that of the original.

That being said - here's a little banter on some oversights (besides those hard rock/metal ones I listed above). I could go on and on, but I will try to contain myself.

Tom Waits - Finally he made the list of nominees this year. They better not embarass themselves and not put this one in its rightful place.

Jethro Tull - I just don't think they get the respect they deserve. I don't get it.

KISS - Say what you will about them, there's really no doubt they belong. It seems that someone has a (battle)axe to grind at the hall.

Rush - I'm a fan, and I think they deserve it. But I get it that there are many folks (particularly girls) that just can't stand them. But each member is just an absolute BEAST on their instrument and they have done it their way for 37 years. Nobody sounds like Rush, they are one of a kind.

Todd Rundgren - He should be in based on his work as a producer alone (Badfinger, Meat Loaf Bat Out of Hell, the debut of New York Dolls, XTC Skylarking), but is one helluva artist in his own right.

Nick Lowe - Besides all of his great songs and his work with Rockpile, he produced the first five Elvis Costello albums, the first three by Graham Parker, and The Pretenders debut.

Richard Thompson, Graham Parker, Randy Newman, Roxy Music, Big Star, Doug Sahm.

Ok, I'll stop - these were just the ones that are currently on my mp3 player...

Hook of the Day - Accept "Teutonic Terror"

Ok, let's take inventory here:

Sparks
Fire
Two flying V's
A guitarist named Wolf
A seriously vibrating top bass string
A shirt that says "Heavy Metal Til I Die"
More fire
Guitar formations GALORE
Back-to-basics kickass vocals
Yes, even more FIRE!

I have no further suggestions for them - just killer. And they are coming to St. Charles on October 9th. That place may never be the same. This is from their awesome new album "Blood of the Nations." Spread the word...