Best of 2014 - Ep169

2014 is drawing to a close and we're finishing it out with a rocking look back.

Aaron and Chris close out 2014 by spinning their Top 10 tracks of the year (each). In this supersized episode of the Decibel Geek podcast you'll get 20 tracks of the year's best in rock and metal with songs from Big Wreck, Rival Sons, Harem Scarem, Ace Frehley, Overkill, Judas Priest, AC/DC, Steve Conte, Slash and a bunch more!

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Steve Conte - NYC
Big Wreck - Ghosts
Edguy - Space Police n
Sebastian Bach - Give Em' Hell
Rival Sons - Great Western Valkyrie
Ace Frehley - Space Invader
The Dead Daisies - Face I Love
Kyng - Burn the Serum
Red Dragon Cartel - Red Dragon Cartel
Vega - Stereo Messiah
Harem Scarem - Thirteen
Crobot - Something Supernatural
Smashing Pumpkins - Monuments To An Elegy
Overkill - White Devil Armory
Judas Priest - Redeemer of Souls
Slash - World On Fire
AC/DC - Rock or Bust
Black Label Society - Catacombs Of The Black Vatican
Donnie Vie - The White Album
California Breed - California Breed CD/DVD Deluxe Edition

Geeks of the Week:
David Alpizar, Chris Karam, Victor Ruiz (Mars Attacks Podcast), Bakko, Paul Stamm, Joe Lascon, Allen Tate, Brad Kalmanson, Derik Novak, Jason Thomas Broadrick, Brent Walter, Shane Hebert, James Brendon Dunn, Warren Money, Julie Bakken, Sit and Spin with Joe, Chad Pollock, Robin Bennett, Brian Bates, Matt Bradshaw, Tony Clemons, Metal: A Headbangers Heaven, Mike Stewart, Todd Cunningham, Miguel Nunez, Joe Vanchieri, Mike Blount, Matt Ashcraft, Justin Ace Sixx, Gino Ames, Riff of the Day, Orm Arnarson, Doug Aldrich, hoops, Sid Menon, Jeff Ludban, Viking Girl, MusicMagsAndWax, Jack Broad, Joel DeLorge, TwittEarl, Nonsensicast Radio, Hard Rock Dad, Raw Magazine, Hot Metal Magazine, Loudmouth Column, Faces Rocks Magazine, The Mooger Fooger

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...And the Winner is: Red Dragon Cartel! (Award: The Band That Meister Has Seen Live the Most In 2014)

Anyone who knows me knows what a fan of not just hard rock and heavy metal music, but the live concert scene I am.  That being said it's unavoidable that I would catch a few bands for more than

Jake E. Lee - photo by Wally Norton

one performance as I hit up concerts in Toronto and festivals around the world as much as work allows throughout the year.  Jake E. Lee's Red Dragon Cartel is a band that I've seen a whopping six times throughout 2014 and frankly, it's still not enough!  After all the hoopla surrounding the band's premiere show front man Darren James Smith has more than proven his vocal prowess around the world, something that I, like Jake E. Lee, knew he would.  A former member of Harem Scarem, Warmachine, Heavens Fire and other Toronto area bands, the Southern Ontario resident has delivered countless top notch performances as the band saw heavy worldwide touring throughout 2014.

Darren not only has to sing the songs from Red Dragon Cartel's self titled album issued earlier this year that he provided vocals for, but has to also sing songs that originally showcased the voices of the likes of Robin Zander and Paul Di'Anno. On top of that he has to pull off the late Ray Gillen's Badlands tracks and one of the most well known voices in rock, Ozzy Osbourne. Not an easy feat!

Jake E. Lee is a guitarist that everyone definitely has to see before they die and now with his Badlands brother Greg Chaisson stepping in for Ronnie Mancuso who returned to his producing, Red Dragon Cartel is still setting the world on fire!  The band seemed to be playing everywhere in 2014 with appearances at Sweden Rock Festival, Monsters of Rock Cruise and M3 Festival and has more gigs planned for 2015.  But on Wednesday December 10, 2014 they rolled into Toronto for the second time this year!

Post by The Meister.

After the stage and crowd at The Garrison was warmed by opening bands Warmachine, a local area band that formerly featured Darren James Smith with a pummeling fast paced set and young guitar wizard Ethan Brosh and his band with their shredding instrumental set, the crowd tightened up for Red Dragon Cartel.  Coming out of the gates ripping, they delivered Ozzy's "Ultimate Sin", of course co-written by Jake E. Lee.  The band sounded great with Jonas Fairley's pounding drums, Greg Chaisson's thundering bass and Darren James Smith's soaring vocals, but it was of course the master Jake E. Lee who stole the show.  "Wasted" from the Red Dragon Cartel self titled CD, which Paul Di'Anno provided the vocals for on the album was the next selection.  The crowd was clearly loving every minute of the show, but they weren't the only ones as a broad smile could often be seen to flash across Lee's face as he seemingly effortlessly wielded his guitar.  Throughout the evening we also were served songs like "Shout It Out", "War Machine", "Deceived" and "Feeder" (a Robin Zander sung track on the album).  Intermixed with those awesome Red Dragon Cartel songs were some classic Badlands compositions in the form of "High Wire", "Healer" and "Rumblin' Train" among others.  One of the absolute highlights for me and one of the earliest rock/metal tracks I ever heard was the encore presentation and show closer of Ozzy's "Bark At the Moon".

Post by The Meister.

Once again, this is the sixth time that I've seen Red Dragon Cartel live this year and it's still not enough!  If you have the chance, don't miss these guys!

Cheers,
The Meister

(The Meister on Facebook) (Meister on Twitter)

PHOTO CREDIT: WALLYGATOR NORTON 2014

(Red Dragon Cartel Website) (Red Dragon Cartel Facebook)

Some Things I Don't Hate For Thanksgiving

Thanksgiving means different things to different people.  For some it’s turkey, family and football.  Not necessarily in that order.  To some it means storming the doors of a Wal Mart in search of that brag worthy deal.  And for some it means being forced to work at a retail store and deal with the worst humans America has to offer.  Amidst all of this is the idea that whether we shop, cook or sit on a couch, the overlying theme is we should all use this time of year to reflect on what we are thankful for.  But as the things I loved are tossed aside in favor of technological trends I find it easier to reflect on things I’m unthankful for.  I’m unthankful that just living my life meant hearing that dreadful Taylor Swift Shake It Off song about 100 times (so far.)  I’m unthankful Nickelback has a new record out.  Was that really necessary?  And boy am I unthankful for Beyonce.  Just stop.  Ugg.   

 

 

But in the spirit of the holiday I will take off my Scrooge tinted glasses and give you a festive blog filled with things that don’t make me homicidal.  I give you...

 

Things I didn’t Hate About 2014.    

 

I didn’t hate the return of Jake E Lee with Red Dragon Cartel.  My most played new release of the year hands down.  Of course I hated him canceling his Minnesota date.  I was really looking forward to it.  Speaking with John Vrocker, the promoter who booked them into Pickle Park, he said it was somewhat of a logistical decision made a couple days before the show based on the length of the drive for the show following their only Minnesota date.  Love the record Jake.  Glad your back playing rock.  But isn’t touring basically one long drive? 

 

I didn't hate Paul Stanley’s autobiography.  Although he sure comes off angry for a guy who got all he ever wanted.  I would rank it second, behind Peter’s, of all the KISS autobiography’s in the entertaining read department.  More believable I suppose.

 

I didn’t hate KISS finally getting inducted into the Rock And Roll Hall Of Fame.  I hated all the drama that unnecessarily came with it.  While I do think Gene and Paul owed it to the fans to suck it up and play a couple songs with the original band I mostly blame the HOF.  Not for excluding anyone who was in the band after the original four.  I blame them for not doing this when KISS was first eligible.  KISS in 1999 consisted of the original four members.  Had they done it then, like they should’ve, it would've been a proper way to celebrate my favorite band.    Still I liked the humility in Gene's speech.  I liked how you could tell how much it meant to Peter.  And I liked how Paul reminded the powers that be they are all douche bags who can suck it.  And he should’ve never spoke of it again.  By carrying on like he did he looks like a whiny little baby.

Don Jamieson with a
very, very nice shirt.

I didn't hate seeing Don Jamieson when he performed at the New Hope Cinema Grill last March.  He was quite funny and his show was my first official review of any sort.  Meeting him after the show was cool.  He came off exactly as he seems on That Metal Show.  Nice guy.
 

I didn’t hate that George Thorogood didn’t release any new music this year.  Thanks for that George. 

 

I didn't hate American Dog's latest release Neanderthal.  In fact I love it.  I was pretty late to the party on this band.  Another reason I should do anything Rob Kern from FOON (From Out Of Nowhere podcast) tells me to.  Without Rob there would be no #Stargrilling.  And a world without #Stargrilling is no place to be.

FROM L-R.  YOUR'S TRULY, FOON CO-HOST ROB KERN AND AMERICAN DOG'S MICHAEL HANNON.  #STARGRILLING

I didn't hate Ace Fernley’s latest solo album Space Invader.  While not great you have to consider he’s in his 60’s and sounds like he’s having fun. 
 

Wes Scantlin Upright

I didn’t hate seeing the Puddle Of Mudd singer barely make it through a set.  My only complaint would be if you’re gonna be a train wreck, why not go all in?  Despite his clear aversion to the gravity in the room, he and the band sounded alright.  But if you aren’t gonna be at your best, is it too much to ask you be at your worst?  

 

I don't hate that FatCat Radio continues to fill my computer speakers with real hard rock on a 24/7 spin.  With terrestrial radio pretty much where good music dies it's nice there is a place for those who take substance serious. 

 

Marq Torien.  Bullet Boys at Pickle Park

Surprisingly I didn’t hate the Bullet Boys when they came to Minnesota (another John Vrocker production) this summer.  Much like Puddle Of Mudd, I went almost rooting for a train wreck but what I got was a kick ass rock show.  The band has been lead singer Marq Torien and whoever he could convince to play for a six pack of beer for over a decade so I didn’t expect a real show.  I was wrong.  It’s amazing how much good music was packed in those first two albums and the band I saw delivered.

 

I didn’t hate that Slipknot released their first new music since the passing of Paul Gray in 2010.  In typical Slipknot fashion it took me a few listens to really get into it but I have become quite fond of it. 

 

I didn’t hate the latest Foo Fighters release.  I didn’t love it as much as I was hoping but I didn’t hate it.  Maybe this was something Dave needed to do but I think for the next record he just needs to sit down and write a rock record. 

I have plans Aug 22 2015

 

In another shocker.  I didn’t hate standing in line for 2.5 hours for Foo Fighters tickets.  I took me back to simpler time where fans got first crack at tickets and scalpers worked out of parking lots on the day of the show.  With scalping legalized more places, the internet making that irrelevant anyway and promoters working with aftermarket resellers at an increased rate, I’d like to see more of this.  The people who want the ticket should at least have an opportunity to buy them first.   

 

Yours truly and Tommy from
Three Sides of the Coin

I didn’t hate Know Name Records doing a listening party for the red headed step child that is KISS Music from the Elder.  Even if it was done to pay off a bet it was cool with the record on constant play, prizes drawn and a star studded affair which saw Tommy from Three Sides of the Coin as well as Bakko from Jesus Chrysler (talk about an ego on that guy) in attendance.  DannyBeck, the man responsible for the event, won’t admit it but deep down he has a deep affinity for this classic KISS album. 

 

I didn’t hate being brought into the Decibel Geek family.  I look forward to the next year and my first contributions to KISSmas in July.  So to Chris, Aaron and everyone else at Decibel Geek thanks for having me.   

 

 

Happy Thanksgiving.  Now get off my lawn.

 

 

HATE MAIL