Welcome to Metal Odyssey’s 1st Annual Top Ten Hard Rock Albums list! This list is for Hard Rock albums released in 2009. These albums are my favorites that I listened to most consistently this past year, while hearing the best in overall musicianship and songs. For sure there are Hard Rock albums released in 2009 that I have passed over, (time and money plays a factor). *Please note the links throughout this list, navigating you to a more detailed review, that I have written for past Metal Odyssey posts during 2009, regarding the respective album.

#10 – CHICKENFOOT – CHICKENFOOT

The more I listened to this Supergroup lineup of Sammy Hagar (lead vocals), Joe Satriani, (lead guitar), Michael Anthony, (bass guitar) and Chad Smith, (drums), the more it dawned on me… I was probably more star struck at the initial release of this album, (June 5, 2009), than I am in December, 2009. Don’t get me wrong, I really, really like Chickenfoot. This album takes me back to the late ’80’s Hard Rock vibe of Van Hagar, uh, Van Halen, plus the songs remind me of good time Summer days. For me not to have these guys in my Top Ten of Hard Rock Albums for 2009 – would be an insult to myself. This Chickenfoot album I will without question, listen to time and again… especially during the Summer months. For more stuff I wrote about Chickenfoot on May 1, 2009, click on the heading below:

Watch out Metal & Hard Rock fans – Chickenfoot is coming!

#9 – MADINA LAKE – ATTICS TO EDEN

Yeah, sure, there is some slight Pop in the music of Madina Lake, with an overlying style of Alternative Rock, still… the hard edge heard inside the inner linings of the songs, on Attics To Eden, is what still lures me in. Madina Lake convinced me, that they give a damn about song writing and lyrics, not caving in to being too hard or too soft at the same time. Call me corny, Madina Lake created one heck of an inspiring album, with Attics To Eden. My detailed review I posted on August 13, 2009, can be yours by clicking you know where – below:

MADINA LAKE – “Attics to Eden” is an Alternative Rock detour to take

#8 – PAPA ROACH – METAMORPHOSIS

Jacoby Shaddix makes this album so appreciable for me, with his vocals not overpowering the band, instead they distinguish the individual songs heard on Metamorphosis. Papa Roach is not a band trying to be something they are not… instead Papa Roach mixes Rock styles into a menagerie of hard and at times, heavy songs on this album. Papa Roach may have given a nod to some decades old, retrospective melodic heaviness, yet still kept the relevancy factor at full throttle. O.k., I’m guilty of calling the most accessible song on Metamorphosis my favorite… Lifeline more than rivets me, it lifts my spirits high. I posted just how much this album thrilled me, on April 7, 2009… click below to see what I blabbed.

Papa Roach “Metamorphosis” – leave your stress behind!

#7 – DOMMIN – EP

Sure, this is just an EP from DOMMIN, subsequently titled – EP, nonetheless, it had such an impact on me that it made my Top Ten Hard Rock Album List. Kristofer Dommin has quite the vocals and can write some catchy, moody and dark songs. There are four songs on EP, in my Metal opinion they are dynamite. I am really looking forward to the complete studio album from DOMMIN, Love Is Gone, to be released on February 10, 2009. On October 19, 2009, I let everyone in the world know, just how thrilled I am about EP… check out what I ranted and raved about by clicking below:

DOMMIN – “E.P.” Has Me Hooked

#6 – FOREIGNER – CAN’T SLOW DOWN

The album title for this 2009 version of Foreigner is extremely fitting for founding member Mick Jones. Kudos to Mick for not slowing down at all. The Foreigner brand and band is at the top of their Hard Rock game musically, making an album that should not only catapult this current Foreigner lineup but spotlight the Hard Rock history of this band as well. Foreigner has been a mainstay band for me since the late 1970’s, following my heart is not what I am doing here… this is a very good album. Kelly Hansen fits right in with Foreigner, he even sings the bands classics like they were intended for him. I could never compare him to Lou Gramm, there forever will only be one Lou Gramm. It doesn’t hurt that Jeff Pilson is the bass guitarist with Foreigner either. I definitely recommend this album, Foreigner 2009 is not an anomaly, they are for real… just as they ever were.

#5- WOLFMOTHER – COSMIC EGG

Yes, I am a Wolfmother believer, one who could not wait for them to release their sophomore album. Cosmic Egg is NOT a carbon copy of the debut Wolfmother album, instead the songs take on a more melodic and streamlined sound. There is definitely MORE happening on this second album from Wolfmother, with song structure and production seeming to take on a prominent role. The songs on Cosmic Egg sound beefier than that of it’s predecessor. Wolfmother carries on with their psychedelic whomp on Cosmic Egg, carrying over the Old School riffs and chops that remind me of the early to mid 1970’s Hard Rock world. I may never know for sure, if there are those Old School Hard Rock influences coming into play with Wolfmother, regardless, this album never ceases to send sensory shock waves of heavy glee through me, with each listen. Simply, a super all around Hard Rock album.

#4 – THE MARS VOLTA – OCTAHEDRON

Call it my insatiable appetite for Progressive Music… Progressive Hard Rock 101 = The Mars Volta. There are layers and whirlwinds of musical innuendo to be heard on Octahedron. Could anyone familiar with The Mars Volta have expected anything substandard? Never. It will most likely take me another fifty listens to this album, to finally come close in hearing every piece of music, that radiates from within it’s unreal great core. The Mars Volta could go into a time machine and make relevant Rock and Roll, Rock or Hard Rock in any of the past six decades. Octahedron is not math Rock… it is genius and Progressive Hard Rock. The Mars Volta have done their homework in Progressive Rock history and appreciation, now I am forever appreciating this band and Octahedron. Oh, yeah, I did praise The Mars Volta up and down, on July 7, 2009. Just do a quick click below to read what I mean:

The Mars Volta “Octahedron” – A Progressive Hard Rock mind pill

#3 – CHEAP TRICK – THE LATEST

Cheap Trick. I became a lifelong fan of this band a long time ago, in a very expensive state called Connecticut, far, far, away. The album opener Sleep Forever is what grabbed me emotionally from the onset, a somber intro/prelude to a Cheap Trick bevy of Rock and Roll delight. Cheap Trick has maintained their elite status in the history of Rock Music… for me and I’m convinced many others as well. The Latest is just that – the latest great blend of Rock and Hard Rock Music from a band that DESERVES TO BE IN THE ROCK AND ROLL HALL OF FAME. On July 26, 2009, I was blogging away as to how enormously great this new Cheap Trick album is… lookie below and click away to read it!

Cheap Trick “The Latest” is their latest great album

#2 – CKY – CARVER CITY

During the early half of 2009, I found it easy to slap the Metal label on CKY. Then, upon my listening to Carver City on numerous occasions, I decided this band is in fact, a Hard Rock Band to my ears. I never professed to be a music genre genius… just a music genre blabber. Yes, CKY can and has proven the excellent ability to play very, very, heavy, (Old Carver’s Bones, for example), yet songs such as A #1 Roller Rager and The Era Of An End solidifies my belief as CKY being Hard Rock. Carver City is as muscular with great songs and invitingly macabre as any album I could possibly wish for. I willingly became a CKY fan in 2009, prompted by this unreal great album. I really laid it on thick as to why CKY and Carver City made me so ecstatic… yes I did… on May 21, 2009 and if you want to, check out the details I blabbed by… uh, huh… clicking the heading below.

CKY “Carver City” is diverse, macabre Metal at it’s finest

Here is the front cover to CKY – CARVER CITY… spooky scene there, one of my favorite covers of 2009.

Here is the back cover of CKY – CARVER CITY… again, very spooky, this stuff I can’t get enough of.

#1 – LYNYRD SKYNYRD – GOD & GUNS

Upon my very first listen to Lynyrd Skynyrd – God & Guns, I realized I was listening to something very special. An American Rock Music icon… survivors, Southern Rock legends… Lynyrd Skynyrd. When choosing a #1 album, for me, it is all about total song quality. ALL 12 songs are a journey into a world of Southern Hard Rock musicianship at it’s upmost finest. Yes, this album does dabble in Country Rock with Unwrite That Song and That Ain’t My America… and why shouldn’t Lynyrd Skynyrd go in that direction if they so choose? This great band is deserving of creating any damn song they want, they have earned it. Trust me, this is an album that will be appreciated by skeptics and critics more for it’s total sum than it’s parts… ten, maybe twenty years from now. The Hard Rock parts are all there to be heard, with Southern Rock and Country Rock roots swirled into the mix. God & Guns is patriotic and I am proud to be an American. Long live Lynyrd Skynyrd. Metal Odyssey applauds this band for creating God & Guns.

Don’t hesitate to read my fully detailed review on God & Guns, I bellowed through my blog just how much this album means to me on October 2, 2009:

LYNYRD SKYNYRD – “GOD & GUNS” IS ALREADY A SOUTHERN ROCK CLASSIC

Thank you for visiting Metal Odyssey and checking out my Top Ten Hard Rock Album List for 2009!

*Be sure to also check out these fellow Hard Rock/Heavy Metal Music blogs for their Best Of Lists for 2009, they are fabulous blogs all… believe me, it is worth the time, plus it’s darn good fun:

Heavy Metal Addiction – http://heavymetaladdiction.com/

All Metal Resource – http://allmetalresource.com/

Bring Back Glam – http://bringbackglam.squarespace.com/

Hair Metal Mansion – http://hairbangersradio.ning.com/

Hard Rock Hideout – http://hardrockhideout.com/

Heavy Metal Time Machine – http://metalmark.blogspot.com/

Imagine Echoes – http://www.imagineechoes.com/

Layla’s Classic Rock – http://laylasclassicrock.blogspot.com/

Metal Excess – http://metalexcess.com/

The Metal Minute – http://rayvanhornjr.blogspot.com/

Rock Of Ages – http://rockofages.wordpress.com/

The Ripple Effect – http://www.ripplemusic.blogspot.com/

Merry Christmas music lovers! I’ve been away for a while sorting out some life stuff but I wanted to do one last post for 2009. As my personal thank you for reading this blog and for passing along the music love, I’ve collected here a set of classic Christmas songs from the roots music world – some blues, jazz, southern rock, country, and bluegrass. Please enjoy and have a safe and happy holiday season and see you in 2010!

Charles Brown ~ “Merry Christmas Baby:”

More Charles Brown ~ “Please Come Home For Christmas.” This one has been famously covered from Edgar Winters, The Eagles, and Bon Jovi, but this is the original:

Little Johnny Taylor also did a version… pure blues heaven!

Southern rock Christmas with Lynyrd Skynyrd ~ “Santa’s Messin’ With The Kid”:

More classic blues rock with Canned Heat doing “Christmas Blues”:

How bout some songs about Santa Claus? Here’s Sonny Boy Williamson with “Santa Claus”:

A jazzy Louis Armstrong with “‘Zat You, Santa Claus?”:

More jazz with Duke Ellington ~ “Sugar Rum Cherry”:

Country crooners Alan Jackson & Alison Krauss doing “The Angels Cried”:

I adore bluegrass. Here are fathers Bill Monroe & Bluegrass Boys ~ “Christmas Times A Coming”:

Bassist Victor Wooten with a funk jam version of “God Rest Ye Merry Gentlemen”:

And I just had to end with the rockabilly classic, “Blue Christmas” by none other than Elvis Presley!

Links:
Charles Brown
Little Johnny Taylor
Lynyrd Skynyrd
Canned Heat
Louis Armstrong
Duke Ellington
Alan Jackson
Alison Krauss
Bill Monroe
Victor Wooten
Elvis Presley

(listed alphabetically)

Age Of Evil Get Dead (EP) – This quartet of teenagers (featuring two sets of brothers) hits hard with their 2009 EP featuring two brand new originals, two cover songs, and two live tracks. The remake of Skid Row’s “Slave To The Grind” is even heavier than the original, while “Get Dead” delivers the angst of the teen years without the despondency of the grunge movement. Best song: “Get Dead.”

BulletBoys 10c Billionaire – Don’t expect any ear candy such as “Smooth Up In Ya” on this release. Marq Torien takes the ‘Boys in a much more modern direction. Some of the songs sound forced, but there are moments of brilliance. Best song: “Road To Nowhere.”

Cockpit Mission To Rock (EP) – Some see all-girl bands as a gimmick, but these ladies have as much right to rock as any group of guys. With riffs as memorable as AC/DC and a rhythm section as steady as Van Halen, Cockpit has a good foundation to build on in the future. Best song: “Mission To Rock.”

Great White Rising – Jack Russell’s voice is as good as ever, but the songwriting has taken a turn for the worse. Sounding more like a bad 1980s soft rock band than the bluesy hard rockers we all know and love, Great White’s 2009 record is one that will quickly be forgotten. Best song: “Situation.”

Judas Priest A Touch Of Evil: Live – Another Priest live album? Yes, but this one is different because none of these songs have ever been released in a live format before. You won’t find the standards “Breaking The Law” or “Living After Midnight;” rather, JP performs underappreciated cuts such as “Judas Rising,” “Prophecy” from the band’s ill-fated Nostradamus, and the Grammy-nominated “Dissident Aggressor.” Best song: “Between The Hammer And The Anvil.”

Lita Ford Wicked Wonderland – This is not your older brother’s Lita. With husband Jim Gillette, she has released some of the strangest and most off-the-wall music from an established artist. There is very little straight-forward rock here; a lot of electronic effects detract from what would have been good songs. There are a few tolerable tracks, but overall this is not a solid selection. Best song: “Scream 4 Me.”

Lynyrd Skynyrd God & Guns – These good ol’ boys are back with another solid album of southern rock, though this offering is a little too countrified for my personal tastes. Fortunately there are some good romps that retain enough hard rock to make it palatable. The title track is one of the best the band has recorded in decades, and is sure to be on my playlist for a long time, but the rest of the album takes some getting used to. Best song: “God & Guns.”

Machines Of Grace Machines Of Grace – Zak Stevens, best known for his work with Savatage and Circle II Circle, breaks out the acoustic guitars with this side project. But that doesn’t mean the volume will be turned down at all, as Stevens continues to belt out the songs with his killer voice. Best song: “Just A Game.”

Sacred Oath Sacred Oath – This power metal group from Connecticut has been big on the underground scene for years, but this year Rob Thorne’s band broke out with a hit on iTunes and MTV2’s Headbangers Ball in April. Best song: “Counting Zeros.”

Uzi Madhouse – Production inconsistencies hurt this record, but the songwriting is stellar throughout. The best ballad released in nearly two decades is found here; “Away From My Heart” could have been as big as Skid Row’s “I Remember You” had it been released by a major label in the late 1980s. Best song: “Away From My Heart.”

Sixx:A.M. “Life Is Beautiful”
Nitro “Long Way From Home”
Machines Of Grace “Just A Game”
Motörhead “Rock Out”
Whitesnake “Slide It In”
Judas Priest “Turbo Lover”
Strike Twice “Never Let Go”
Twisted Sister “Ride To Live, Live To Ride”
Ted Nugent “Free-For-All”
Electric Boys “Mary In The Mystery World”
Shake City “Game Of War”
Sammy Hagar “Red”
Led Zeppelin “Four Sticks”
Alice Cooper “Catch Me If You Can”
Rob Halford “We Three Kings”
Warrant “Father Christmas”
Blues Saraceno “Before The Storm”
Transmission OK “Low”
Blues Saraceno “L.A. Vignette”
Blues Saraceno “Chewing On Crayons”
Poison “Baby Gets Around A Bit”
Mötley Crüe “Come On And Dance”
Winger “Headed For A Heartbreak”
DC4 “Explode”
Freakshow “Mindgame”
Faster Pussycat “City Has No Heart”
KISS “Yes I Know (Nobody’s Perfect)”
Aerosmith “Rag Doll”
Lynyrd Skynryd “God & Guns”
Black Robot “Love On A .45”
Crashdïet “Breakin The Chainz”
Paul Di’Anno “Santa Claus Is Coming To Town”
Age Of Evil “Get Dead”
Lynch Mob “Dream Until Tomorrow”

Hey Ya’ll!!!

Gettin’ ready for bed tonight I had a hankering for some Skynyrd!!!  Turns out I was in luck…Yallwire.com had their new video for “Simple Life”!  Catchy tune with a great looking video!  I think the boys have gone county….commercial country that is!   Not sure if Skynyrd die-hards will embrace this new sound??  Hmmm…I think I like it   I give this video an 8!!

Check out the video @ Lynyrd Skynyrd – Simple Life at www.yallwire.com!!!

Country Rocks!

JW

I received some not so nice messages earlier today. Someone’s boyfriend is demanding back money and so called “stuff” to be returned back to him since they are not seeing each other again. He did not, however, itemised the things and the amount of money demanded.

I must say I was shocked to hear it, well unless, she does owe him money (but she doesn’t!). As I was told, the “things” include panties that he has bought for her, so now he wants it back so that he can sell the unwashed one over E-bay and regain back some of his “money”, haha. Just kidding.

What can I say, I know this dude, and certainly I have lost all respect for him. You can’t equate a personal relationship with dollars and cents! Perhaps the lady should bill him for all the good times the’ve had! He could end up in deficit for all you know.

One thing for sure is, he is calculative isn’t he? I mean the bright side is, this episode is unfolding way before they get into any serious relationship (or have they? I’m not so sure…). I guess I meant before any official ties between them.

The question is, what does she do about it? How do you even counter such a childish request by the boyfriend? Just ignore and wait for him to sue her in court and counter sue him later?

I would just ignore, but I would make a serious attempt to return all things genuinely his, for example his pen that might end up mistakenly, or something that rightfully belongs to him. I would return them through a mutual friend because I won’t have any respect for this guy. I would be firm not to see him again. If there is something I have mastered over the years is to give one a “transparent” treatment. I can look through someone without even seeing that someone. It’s cold let me tell you that, haha. This guy deserves this special treat, haha.

Well seriously, this is game over and enough is enough. Mr Boyfriend has no respect for the person whatsoever. I guess this is what happened when Boyfriend here flashes you with materials and you go ga-ga and now when something goes wrong it’s payback time. Someone has to tell this guy this is a deal gone sour and consider all the investment made as losses! Period.

MJ, just ignore this dickhead!

Here is Lynyrd Skynyrd asking back for their bullets, haha.

Classic Rock  – Back in the Saddle (September 2009, Future Publishing)

1. Alice In Chains – “A Looking in View” … 7:05
2. The Wildhearts – “John of Violence” … 3:51
3. Mott the Hoople – “One of the Boys” … 4:10
4. The Jokers – “The Big Rock and Roll Show” … 4:17
5. The Union – “Watch the River Flow” … 4:24
6. Cowboy Prostitutes – “Outrageous” … 3:36
7. The Black Crowes – “I Ain’t Hiding” … 5:58
8. Saigon Hookers – “Devil to Win” … 2:10
9. Cheap Trick – “Sick Man of Europe” … 2:10
10. Lynyrd Skynyrd – “Simple Life” … 3:17
11. Porcupine Tree – “Time Flies (Edit)” … 5:23
12. We Will Have Victory – “Heretics in Vietnam” … 3:37
13. Black Spiders – “Meadow” … 6:21
14. Federal Black 40 – “The One” … 3:16
15. Emerald – “Live Forever” … 5:16

Another month, another CD insert from the UK Classic Rock magazine (the best rock magazine ever, IMO). This time the focus is on “returning heroes” (Alice In Chains, Cheap Trick, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Mott the Hoople, etc.) and “young gods” (Black Spiders, We Will Have Victory, The Union, etc.). I was surprised they didn’t include KISS’ “Modern Day Delilah”, but come to find out, that’s included on the October CD from Classic Rock’s sister publication Metal Hammer.

Typically for a collection like this, the style of rock and quality of it is all over the place. A few notes:

-Alice In Chains, despite the absence of the late Layne Staley, still sound like Alice In Chains. “A Looking in View” is plodding and dark. Good stuff, doesn’t compare to some of AIC’s better known songs though.
-The Wildhearts turn in a pretty good number that is probably one of the better songs I’ve ever heard from them.
-That Black Crowes song is just weird coming from them. It’s like some funky Fall Out Boy kind of song.
-Cheap Trick delivers with the crunch of “Sick Man of Europe”. They played this live on the Def Leppard/Poison tour this summer, I liked it then and I like it now.
-As I figured would be the case, after finally hearing them, Porcupine Tree is really boring.
-We Will Have Victory is a pretty good mix and old and new hard rock. The singer reminds me of Josh Todd.
-Emerald sounds like a band that would not have been out of place on The New Wave of Traditional Metal compilation Classic Rock issued a few months ago.

Highlights: “A Looking in View”, “John of Violence”, “Sick Man of Europe”, “Heretics in Vietnam”, “Live Forever”

www.classicrockmagazine.com
www.myspace.com/classicrockmagazine

Sempre que passo em frente às livrarias e vejo nas vitrines livros como 1001 Filmes Para Ver Antes de Morrer ou 1001 Discos Para Ouvir Antes de Morrer, e até mesmo 1001 Livros Para Ler Antes de Morrer (ufa), eu fico bem… querendo morrer. Porque falando sério, é muito desesperador você amar música, literatura, cinema e saber que precisa conhecer 1001 coisas de cada antes de morrer. Sempre achei meio impossível.

Livrinho tentador

Bom, nem tão mais impossível assim. Pelo menos em relação à música. O Sétima Nota publicou em seu último post um link que disponibiliza a lista de álbuns do livro 1001 Discos Para Ouvir Antes de Morrer e seus respectivos downloads. Isso mesmo: agora eu (todos nós) posso baixar tudinho! E o mais legal disso é poder conhecer artistas e músicas “novas”. Que, mesmo antigas, eu não conhecia. E também curtir o que eu já gosto, como Metallica, Rolling Stones, Beatles, The Doors, Creedence, Led Zeppelin, Lynyrd Skynyrd, Aerosmith, Sex Pistols, Van Halen, Dire Straits, AC/DC, Iron Maiden, Nirvana… isso porque só passei os olhos pela lista até o início dos anos 90. Legal também é ver a música brasileira marcando presença ali no meio, além de bandas de rock dos anos 60 que meus pais adoram!

The Doors e seu álbum de mesmo nome estão na lista

O álbum black do Metallica não podia faltar

O Metallica, inclusive, tem mais de um álbum na lista dos 1001. Para quem quer curtir o show que a banda vai fazer no Brasil em janeiro, é uma boa conferir parte da discografia. Para acessar o link com os downloads, só passar no blog Sétima Nota, que também tem várias outras coisas legais sobre música.

Via Sétima Nota.

CD 1
01. Workin’ For MCA
02. I Ain’t The One
03. Searching
04. Tuesday’s Gone
05. Saturday Night Special
06. Travelin’ Man
07. Whiskey Rock-A-Roller
08. Sweet Home Alabama

CD 2
01. Gimme Three Steps
02. Call Me The Breeze
03. T For Texas
04. The Needle And The Spoon
05. Crossroads
06. Free Bird

http://lix.in/-611914

01. I Ain’t The One
02. Tuesday’s Gone
03. Gimme Three Steps
04. Simple Man
05. Things Goin’ On
06. Mississippi Kid
07. Poison Whiskey
08. Free Bird

http://lix.in/-64264c

Southern Spirit Music Blog: Outlaws : l’attesa è finita ?

A is for Alexi Murdoch- loving the voice
B is for the Bob’s- Marley, Dylan, Seger legends- with a song for every mood
C is for Creedence Clearwater Revival- the oldies are still the best
D is for John Denver- a great poet even if he isn’t considered cool
E is for The Eagles- who doesn’t love Hotel California
F is for Foo Fighters- Dave Grohl’s done good
G is for The Gaslight Anthem- the best new band around (and my other love- The Goo Goo Dolls)
H is for Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers- a recent discovery
I is for Iggy Pop- he may have sold out doing the insurance ads but still an original punk rock pioneer
J is for James, Jimi Hendrix and Jimmy Eat World- same name very different music
K is for Kiss- grown men in facepaint hell yeah
L is for Lynyrd Skynyrd- touring next year- I’m so there
M is for Mika- yeah right- Michael Jackson- the king of pop- enough said
N is for Neil Young- oh to have been there first time round
O is for Oasis- You either love them or hate them
P is for Pink Floyd- one of a kind
Q is for Queen- sing-a-long anthems that never get old
R is for Ray Lamontagne, Rod Stewart (a guilty pleasure), Rolling Stones and Ryan Adams- I couldn’t pick just one
S is for Simon & Garfunkel- love, love, love
T is for Tracy Chapman- heartfelt lyrics at their best
U is for The Undertones- Teenage Kicks is a classic
V is for The Verve- It’s a bittersweet symphony, that’s life
W is for The Who- Baba O’Reilly what a tune
X is for… I have no idea
Y is for Yusuf Islam aka Cat Stevens- sound track to your life
Z is for Led Zeppelin- still the best after all this time

” El grupo definitivo de rock sureño “

Southern Spirit Music Blog: Wes Jeans : Forest of the Pine ( CD 2006 ) Grandissimo Texas Blues !

Vanavond (21 november) vindt er in Get Rhythm Ridderkerk een benefietconcert plaats. De opbrengt komt ten goede aan KiKa (Kinderen Kankervrij).

Er stonden vier bands op de lijst, maar door omstandigheden waren er twee afmeldingen.
De organisatie ging in alle haast op zoek naar vervangers, waaronder The Weak And The Strong (op de site van Get Rhythm staat Cradle vermeld, maar dat klopt dus niet).

Benefietconcerten zijn voor The Weak And The Strong geen onbekend terrein. Onder andere in augustus 2008 werd er ook gespeeld voor KiKa tijdens het Schiedamse festival ‘Herrie in Schiedam’.

Nog geen plannen voor vanavond? Kom dan naar Get Rhythm, Nikkelstraat 41, Ridderkerk.
Entree € 4,-
Het eerste optreden (zo goed als zeker The Weak And The Strong) begint om 21.00 uur.

Volledige line up van de avond (in willekeurige volgorde):

Skinner Tribute to Lynyrd Skynyrd
Playyard
The Veins
Lapré Band
The Weak And The Strong

(Appeared in the November issue 2009 Maxx-m published from Jakarta, Indonesia)

If I leave here tomorrow
would you still remember me?
For I must be travelling on, now,
cause there’s too many places I’ve got to see.
But, if I stayed here with you, girl,
Things just couldn’t be the same.
Cause I’m as free as a bird now,
And this bird you cannot change.
Lord knows, I can’t change.

Lynyrd Skynyrd – Free Bird (Allen Collins & Ronnie Vanzant)

Sometimes when ennui takes hold and it feels like solitary confinement at the work desk I dash off for a night out on the town or village, as the case may be. Just the other day when such a moment presented itself I retreated to the bustling Jalan Monkey Forest which is dotted with restaurants, warungs and bars of all hues and prices.

Here amidst the cacophony of car horns, thundering motorcycles and eager beaver tourists trudging the footpath carrying plastic bags loaded with goodies is one of my favourite watering holes imaginatively named Laughing Buddha Bar. This small cosy place has a range of reasonably priced dishes on the menu and the ubiquitous Bintang on tap. But this is not why I haunt this place on Mondays and Thursdays whenever I am on the road. It is for the live music and the company of free birds from across the world.

So now that you have got the gist of the tale let us move onto the happenings of the other night.

Monday it is – washed out by the incessant rain. Dampness hangs heavy in the air as I walk into the gaily lit warung to be greeted by Ketut, the agile young lady whose smile and service is second to none. A quickie drinky, a Ramayana cigar stuffed in my face and a steaming Chorizo sausage in chilli with freshly baked baguette before me and I am content…till the music begins…then the looming spectre of the loneliness of a writer confronts me. I hastily chow down and move to speak to the band members gearing up for the shindig.

The group is called Bali Blues Brothers aka Mushroom Brothers (for obvious reasons).

“Hi Bli what are you doing fiddling with your guitar?” I ask Agung (slide guitarist and leader of the band).

“Tuning bro…tuning…it is an ancient Chinese art form,” he replies with a smile.

The band is – Manto (lead guitar & vocals), Dedy (keyboard), Rinto (bass), Niko (drums) and Agung (band leader and slide guitar).

Soon Bali Blues Brothers launch into a warm up number. A couple sit down opposite me and introduce themselves.

“Hi am Peter and this is my girlfriend Heather we’re from New South Wales do you mind if we join you”, the man asks.

“No worries set your selves down my friends”.

The place begins filling up with couples and singles. The loud chatter mingles delightfully with the music, everything seems right.

Just then she walks up to my table and sits down next to me without a word. After ordering a drink she turns to me and asks, “What’s your name, I see you around a lot”.

“Mark Useless, that’s what the Balinese call me”.

“Seriously?”

“Yes. And what’s yours me lady”

“Yasmin. American but Lebanese born. Adopted.”

“And what are you doing all alone by the telephone”, I say pointing to the hand phone she carries in her hand, an appendage that has become a fashion accessory.

“Finding myself. Learning and yearning to be someone who can create something out of nothing…a meaningful life of sorts. I want to go back to Beirut to find my folks”, she replies distantly.

Suddenly the band belts out a James Brown number ‘Baby give it up or turn it a loose, Uh ha baby give it up or turn it a loose’. Everyone seems to be moving to the rhythm, cameras flash and my Oz friends are on the floor shaking spasmodically. Life suddenly becomes meaningful even for Yasmin. She smiles and we cheer with our drinks.

La Dolce Vita…Hidup Manis…what more can one say?

But the night is young and much is to follow.

In the interval when recorded music takes over and the couple from Oz are back at my table we talk.

“Is this your first time in Bali?” Yasmin asks the couple who appear to be in their mid-fifties.

“Nah we’ve been here before…but this is the first time we have been holidaying together after a gap of 32 years”.

“Could you repeat that please”, I ask.

“Actually Heather and I were in love 32 years ago. We drifted apart and then reconnected when I dropped by a garage sale and bumped into her. Love blossomed again and this time we are not going to lose each other,” he replies while holding his lover close to him.

Yasmin looks away as if to avoid the onset of tears. Heather puts her hand on Yasmin’s shoulder, two women connecting across cultures and time zones in Bali. The unsaid seems all pervasive. A momentary silence ensues which is quickly broken by yours truly who holds Yasmin’s hand and asks her, “So what do you do to pay the bills?”

“I teach small children because they seem so innocent and I can learn a lot from them. In fact I am here in Bali because one of my small students asked me where Bali is situated on the map. That is when I decided to take leave of absence from work and travel south of the equator to see for myself this island, to may be fill the emptiness that I feel – of not belonging. When my savings run out I will return not to Connecticut but Beirut to look for my real family”, she says pulling her hand away from mine and seeking solace in her mojito.

The place keeps filling up and customers are spilling onto the sidewalk.

I invite Agung to our table and introduce my new best friends to him.

Agung is bald and I suppose this is a plus point with the nubile nymphets that congregate at this dig. An unassuming chap he prefers to talk in Balinese with his friends, though ‘Inggris’ music is the way to go to make ends meet. He is married to Nina, an English lady and has a seven year old son, Narayan. He believes music is the only language that connects religions, peoples and cultures…the medium being the massage!

Everyone appears to be talking at the same time. Heather and Peter are lost in their wonderful world of love. Yasmin is animatedly conversing with all and sundry while Agung and I discuss the pros and cons of the traffic flow in Ubud. The picture is one of realism framed on a Monday night on Jalan Monkey Forest.

Agung returns to play with his mates. Live music fills the place once again and the crowd comes closer together…a bonhomie that reflects a truth…that people whoever they may be long for peace, love and happiness, of course spiced by good music. And where else can they find this but in Bali, Indonesia.

Om Shanti Shanti Shanti Om

i met a new friend last Friday. we had a grand old weekend together filled with lots of sex, smoke and smiles. we fit together like two peas in a burrito. being with him is so easy. i don’t have to force myself to laugh or hold back an inappropriate thought or worry about my makeup getting messed up. it was the most fun i’ve had in a long time.

but. he just got out of a four year relationship less than two months ago, one that leftover a 15 month old baby boy. and today his ex told him she wants to get back together. so now he’s confused. he doesn’t want to spoil the wonderful thing we just started, but that’s the mother of his child, the only girl he’s ever told he loves her and meant it. and he also knows that once i graduate in a year and a half, i’m out of here. i’m off to explore the world and settle down somewhere far from everyone i know. he was okay with that before today. he was more interested in having fun than securing a future. but now…..i don’t know what’s gonna happen. i told him to take all the time he needs to figure things out. i’m way too nice. how do you tell the difference between being generous and being taken advantage of?

my roommate took me out for fast food for lunch, but had to drop me off in town afterwards cuz she’d be late for her presentation if she drove me all the way back. i had a therapy session later in the afternoon close by and decided to just hang around town and go straight there. i only had two cigarettes left, so to kill some time, i went to get another pack, but i realized i left my id back at the apartment. i figured i’d give it a shot anyway, see if they make an exception for me. the first place i went that has my favorite kind (camel turkish silver) completely shut me down. the guy didn’t even look me in the eye–it wasn’t up for discussion. so i went to the hippie place that doesn’t have as big of a selection, but i had the feeling they’d be more lenient. and they were, i was very grateful. but they don’t have my favorite, so i had to get newports again. then, while walking down to where i meet my therapist, it was such a pretty afternoon with the sun making everything pleasant, i passed by a couple homeless people holding out their cans for change. i’m usually one to just pass them by with a hardened heart, but today i went right up to them and said, “i don’t have any change, but would you like a cigarette?” they were both very grateful, it was a shining moment for my christian charity ethic. but even after all that, and walking at the slowest, most relaxed pace in the world, i still got there an hour and a half early, so i curled up in the waiting room with lynyrd skynyrd blasting in my ears and fell asleep. i don’t usually sleep in public, but in a mental health waiting room, i figure you have an excuse to act any fucking which way you want. but after only a few moments, my therapist shook me awake and said she could see me early, which was awesome.

i feel like with each session, i’m delving deeper and deeper into myself and my history. by talking to her today, i realized maybe the reason why i’m only attracted to the simple, laid back, down to earth, blue collar, rough and tough, street smart kind of guy might be that my ultra uptight conservative parents set such high standards for me, and this is a way for me to balance out those high standards. someone who’s stuck in a dead end career and was never even given the opportunity to succeed in mainstream society’s opinion isn’t much competition or pressure for me to match.

my tears have dried on my face now. after my phone conversation with my weekend friend about his confusion over me and his ex, i couldn’t help but cry a little. it’s not over him so much as the thought that i’ve always been this unlucky in love. i feel like all my breakups with guys were for reasons that had nothing to do with anything i did wrong, it was always a situational thing, nobody to blame but the grand master plan of the universe. what the fuck is up with that? i’m listening to every sad/lonely/hardhearted tom waits song in my music library right now, which is resonating so deeply, as his music always does with me. right now it’s on “come on up to the house.” the lyrics are so heartwrenchingly poetic, but i only wish i knew exactly what he means by “the house.” i feel like the answer to all my troubles is in those lyrics, but i’m not able to find it…. but at least i know i won’t die anytime soon. i can feel it in my bones that i’m not ready. i haven’t found what i’m looking for yet. if some terrible accident happens tomorrow and my body doesn’t survive, my soul will linger on the earth until i find it. until i find him. my knight in rusted armor that only i can make shine.

Southern Spirit Music Blog: SwampDaWamp – Rock this Country ( CD 2009 )

After the Kiss concert last month, I’ve been taken on as the house photographer for the Pensacola Civic Center.  And over this past weekend, I had the opportunity to photograph legendary southern rock band Lynyrd Skynyrd, currently on their “God & Guns” tour with Rev Theory and Blackberry Smoke.  It was a great show, and I’m not ashamed to say that I teared up during the opening strains of “Freebird.”

• Tom Petty/Mudcrutch < Lynyrd Skynyrd/Allman Brothers
• Frat Dudes <  Jax Beach Rockabilly dudes
• Less than jake > Yellowcard
• Xenophobic Gainesville Hipsters < Go Nowhere Riverside Hipsters
• No Idea Records > Dead Tank Records
• Hot Water Music/Against Me > Whole Wheat Bread/evergreen terrace
• Paines Prairie = Hanna Park
• Santa Fe College > Florida State College (FCCJ)
• Boca Fiesta < Burritto Gallery
• Kickstand > Zombie Bikes Bike Gang Bike Co-Op
• Gainesville Artwalk < Jacksonville Artwalk
• Wayward Council/ Hyde & Zekes/ Sharpies > Weird Wax/nothing/ nada
•  Lake Newnan < Jax Beach
• Anthem Tattoo < Ink Smith and Rogers
• Purple Mushroom < Glasseye
• RTS > JTA
• Reggae Shack  > Phase 1 Jamaican Products
• 1982 > Jack Rabbits
• O Connel Center < Jacksonville Arena
• Gator Football < Jacksonville Jaguars( Fuck the Gators, they win every fucking game, thats boring)
• Downtown Farmers Market < Beaver Street Farmers Market
• Civic Media Center > The Museum of Southern History
• Balls > Blanding Billards
• Alachua/Newberry/Waldo > Macleney/Fernandina Beach/ Orange Park
• Downtown Gainesville < Downtown Jacksonville
• Gainesville Beer Prices < Jacksonville Beer Prices
• Jammy Dodgers < The Band Aids
• Grabass charlestons < SPP
• Hardback = Milk Bar
• Kickstand (venue) < Doozers Pub
• Backstage Lounge > The Pit (Beach Blvd)
• The Atlantic > The Landshark
• The Venue > Freebird
• Young Livers < The 2416
• Religous As Fuck > Civilization
• Radon = Grabbag
• Asshole Parade > Status Faux
• Anchor Arms < Swirl360
• Assassinate the Scientist > Whaleface
• Whiskey & co. < Honey Chamber
• Chris Wollard < Kevin Lee Newberry
• 2nd Ave   <  College St.
• Gainesville Downtown Library Bums <  Jacksonville Downtown library bums
• Fletchers = Da Dirty Dirty
• Swamp < river
• Mothers < Harpoon Louies
• Video Rodeo > Superstore Video News
• Gator Dawgs > JAG Dawgs
• Leonardos < Moon River
• Obscurist Press = Infintesmal Records
• Southernshedpunk.com > Whacksonville.com
• Stephen Stills < Ricky Medlock
• Oaks Mall < Normandy Mall
• Glory Days Booking = Orange Garden Productions
• Haile Village Market < Riverside Arts Market
• Hogtown Brewery = Bold City Brewery
• Las Margaritas > La Nopalara
• The Fest( corp. sponsered) < Conmoto Trech Fest(imagine if HOH was in downtown jax! !)
• Later Gator bus service > Calling a fucking cab/driving drunk

O que acontece quando dois irmãos, consagrados no ramo do southern rock, se juntam para tirar um som? Temos o mais autêntico rock sulista, feito sem frescura nem modernismo.

A primeira vez  que o nome Van Zant apareceu na capa de um disco foi em 1985, quando Johnny Van Zant lançou um disco estampando o sobrenome da família southern rock na capa. O projeto foi engavetado quando o músico assumiu o posto de vocalista do Lynyrd Skynyrd, substituindo seu irmão mais velho Ronnie Van Zant.

O nome Van Zant foi ressuscitado em 1998, quando Doonie Van Zant (vocalista do grupo de southern rock 38 Special) juntou forças com seu irmão Johnny, e juntos, lançam o disco “Brother to Brother“. As letras tratam de valores familiares e de amizade, além da música tema ser uma clara homenagem ao irmão mais velho Ronnie.

O som feito pela dupla era uma mistura entre o Lynyrd Skynyrd de Johnny e o 38 Special de Donnie, alternando entre baladas e músicas mais agitadas.

O sucesso de vendas do disco foi convincente e a dupla resolveu gravar mais.

Em 2001, foi lançado o disco “Van Zant II”, levemente inferior ao disco anterior da dupla.

Em maio de 2005, a dupla lança “Get Right with the Man”, que é basicamente um disco de country-rock, com algumas referências sulistas. Destaque para as músicas Takin’ Space e Things I Miss the Lost. Nesse disco os valores sulistas aparecem com mais força e temas como amor, perda, preocupações, nostalgia e claro, rock and roll, são a base do álbum.

“My Kind of Country” foi lançado em outubro de 2008, e traz dois irmãos claramente mais maduros, compondo músicas mais complexas e melódicas, com espaço até para violinos! Novamente os temas são velhos valores sulistas, reforçados por um espírito nacionalista até então nunca abordado tão explicitamente. Destaques para as músicas “It’s All About You” (uma bela declaração de amor para a esposa) e “We Can’t Do It Alone”.

Deixo aqui dois vídeos, para quem não conhece o som da dupla ter a oportunidade de ouvir e avaliar.

(Nobody Gonna Tell Me What To Do, do disco “Get Right with the Man”, de 2005)

(Help Somebody, do disco “Get Right with the Man”, de 2005)