"Apocalypse is finally here, the end of the world and humanity is condemned, angels are coming down to earth to kill us all and send us to hell. So, you load your shotgun and prepare yourself to hit the road and start some angel hunting. Before this, you need to find the perfect music to join you and motivate you through the journey, fulfilling you with energy, power and "let's rip some fuckin' wings" attitude. Well search no more, you just found Shooting Angels."
Shooting Angels was born in Switzerland in 2014 as a result of a night spent by drummer Alex "Black Cat" and guitarist Lee "The Kid" in a strip club after their jam session. The concept presented to them in their drunken stupor in the form of a hot stripper spewing off pothead talk about the end of the world with the "skies opening up and the angels coming down to earth to kill every human, eating them alive and releasing their souls to hell". And so the band concept was born. Many male singers were auditioned for the position, but it was the kick ass-ery of female vocalist Lola Van Loo that won out to front Shooting Angels. February 2015 saw the release of the Deal With The Devil EP which was recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by Federico Truzzi and shortly afterward guitarist Fabian joined the trio. Now Shooting Angels and their Deal With The Devil EP have found their way to The Meister!
The EP begins with the ominous thunder and rain intro to "This Is War" and this track has a straight ahead rock feel to it with a harmonic, leaning towards symphonic, chorus that becomes quite catchy. Loo shows that she possesses the dulcet tones of the very angels the band is hunting (according to their little bio) at the outset of "Mirror, Mirror" before the rest of the angel hunters join in. The band's title song, "Shooting Angels" is up next and seems to follow the little back story from the band's bio about just what the title suggests. Featuring an insanely memorable chorus that rolls around in my head days later, this is the gem of the assemblage for me. The four song EP wraps up with the title track "Deal With The Devil", another solid composition. All four tracks are available on the Shooting Angels YouTube channel and I have included the links below.
I can't help but picture the American TV show Supernatural with characters Dean and Sam Winchester, for those familiar with that program, when listening to these four tracks thanks to the backstory behind the band. The Shooting Angels EP came to me through the band's drummer Alex "Black Cat". I had previously done a review of Alex's other band Mortician and their Shout For Heavy Metal album (These Austrians Shout For Heavy Metal). While both bands possess a difference in styles, I highly recommend giving both a shot. The only thing left for me now is to hope that they will be playing a gig during the time that I'm over in Europe in June 2015! I'm off to load my shotgun.
Where were you when you first heard "Welcome To The Jungle"? Do you remember? I do. Guns n' Roses' Appetite For Destruction album had a severe impact on the formative days of my youth and was literally a soundtrack to our after school hours. My childhood friend and I had a hold of the record long before most anyone else had even heard of Guns n' Roses, before it became a huge smash, before "Sweet Child O' Mine" became played at every high school dance for years to come. I remember listening to Appetite For Destruction in my friend's bedroom when we were 13/14 and discussing how we couldn't play it in front of our parents because of the "f-bombs" (something that kids don't seem to worry about nearly as much in today's world) and how this was going to be the band that we would follow through every step of their career. Then the album gained attention and soon everyone had it. The day the Use Your Illusion I & II albums were released my friends and I skipped school and made the trek from our little town into the big city of Toronto to buy them right away. I find those albums, especially Appetite For Destruction hold up just as strong today as they did when they first came out and no one knew about our little secret.
When my favorite club, The Rockpile in Toronto, announced that on Friday March 27th, 2015 America's #1 All-female G 'n' R tribute band, The Rocket Queens would be making the trek up from NYC it only made sense that I be in attendance. If you've not experienced The Rockpile, you should make a point to do so. The club has showcased many big name acts here in Toronto and there's something going on every weekend there. Many friends across the world have said that they "want to move where The Rockpile is" or "I wish we had The Rockpile here" and they've never even been to the club! From the extremely personable and "possibly nicest guy ever" owner, to the hard working promoter who brings in the acts, to "one of the best sound men in the business", right down to the lovely bartenders and friendly (unless you're acting up) security folk it's always a pleasure attending an event at The Rockpile. It sure helps in making my 2.5 hr public transit adventures to get there seem much more handle-able!
After drinks and chats with The Rockpile owner and friends while the opening two bands warmed up the stage (btw is the friggin' heat even on here tonight?) it was time for the ladies to take the stage. Not being ones to watch a show from the back of the room or seated positions we swarmed the stage. Announcing that they had driven a long way from NYC to be here and that they were going to play an extra long set tonight, things were off and running with "My Michelle". Hell, this might even be better than actual Guns n' Roses, given the attitudes and state of things there! The girls seemed to be having some sound checking issues even though things sounded great out here and guitarist Lily Maase asked us to bear with them momentarily. They were very quickly under way again with "Double Talkin' Jive" directly followed by "Right Next Door To Hell". It appeared that they were not an all-female band, as promoted, with a long-haired and thunderous drummer behind the kit, but no matter, all had their chops up and we were loving hearing these familiar tunes live. "Mr Brownstone" was a definite highlight, which I was able to capture on video and its follow up of "Sweet Child O' Mine". Unfortunately, the ladies still seemed to be having some sound issues throughout these first songs. A little feedback from singer Magdalena Baldych's mike was minimal and she quickly backed away from the monitors but the real issue was apparently coming from the bass cab which they had borrowed, theirs not crossing the border. Bass player Yuka Tadano could not hear anything in her monitors, so had no idea how it sounded I guess, well, out here it's friggin' awesome no worries! With the regular Rockpile soundman absent tonight (how dare he have a night off?...lol) another bass cab was brought on stage and quickly switched out. All this took no longer than about 3 minutes so there really was no stoppage in what was already an excellent performance. They continued to kick ass with "You Could Be Mine" from Use Your Illusion II and also the movie Terminator 2: Judgement Day but oddly not featured on the soundtrack, trailed by "Rocket Queen" including a blistering guitar solo. The rumor began to circulate that the band's actual drummer had in fact not been admitted into the country, something that we've seen in the past here in Toronto. Singing along at the top of my lungs (apologies to anyone in actual earshot of my tone deafness) with my friends at these classic G 'n' R tunes delivered flawlessly by The Rocket Queens, I forgot to take notes and missed at least one song in the set. I'm sure I sang along with every word during it however! My all-time favorite (don't even know why really) G 'n' R song "Out 'ta Get Me" slipped it's way into the set keeping me rocking away before the apparently difficult to play and somewhat deeper cut of "Perfect Crime". The awesome Izzy Stradlin written (most of his G 'n' R written compositions are awesome) "Dust n' Bones" took us through to "You're Crazy" which for sure had everyone in the audience singing along! We were then treated to "Civil War" and I have to say that these ladies know how to rock serving up this awesomely executed cut. Where's the top hat though Slash/Lily? "Welcome to the Jungle" came next and always makes me think I should watch Clint Eastwood's The Dead Pool with his "Dirty" Harry Callahan character again (for those that don't get it, the song is featured in part during a scene in the film in which Jim Carrey played the singer). Along with more singing from the crowd (did we ever actually stop? A definite sign that everyone was loving this) the G 'n' R covered Bob Dylan song "Knocking On Heaven's Door" (which appeared on the Days of Thunder soundtrack) also featured some fantastic, but not overdone guitar noodling supplied by Lily Maase. They took a moment's musical break to introduce each member of the band, Alicyn Yaffee and Lily Maase both guitar, Yuka Tadano bass, Magdalena Baldych playing the role of Axl including his sway dance, but not the attitude and "since our regular drummer couldn't make it tonight Don Berger flew in all the way from Newark to help us out tonight". Well, that explains a little, but no mention of why the regular couldn't make it. "Knocking On Heaven's Door" continued with a little of the "crowd-chanting-repeat-after-me" game, but thankfully once again not overdone, just a little fun and never losing our attention. "Nightrain" took us through to "Paradise City" which marked the end of the event but of course it wasn't the end. The ladies had hardly left the stage when they were seemingly instantly back for "Patience" (a song that I personally could have done without). What an overall smokin' set list encompassing the best of Guns n' Roses, there's always more that would have been great to hear but an excellent representation. I have to personally send my thanks to The Rocket Queens for ignoring things like "Don't Cry" and "November Rain", although I may be alone in this. The Rocket Queens were out in the crowd to enjoy some celebratory beverages and mingle with Toronto's rock fans after the set and a few moments chat with guitarist and founder Lily Maase revealed a very humble and personable performer who obviously loves being on stage.
Always a flurry of motion, these ladies don't stand still on stage!! Someone once said to me that "chicks just don't rock as hard as guys". Well, they've obviously never seen The Rocket Queens! Catch these ladies if you can for a great night of classic Guns n' Roses, I know I'll definitely be there when they return to open for Adler August 21, 2015.
Setlist: "My Michelle" "Double Talkin' Jive" "Right Next Door To Hell" "Mr. Brownstone" "Sweet Child O' Mine" "You Could Be Mine" "Rocket Queen" "??" (This is where I lost track) "Out Ta Get Me" "Perfect Crime" "Dust n' Bones" "You're Crazy" "Civil War" "Welcome To The Jungle" "Knocking On Heaven's Door" "Nightrain" "Paradise City"
Encore: "Patience"
In some post-show internet searching I discovered that about a year ago Lily Maase was in a (from Facebook page) "life-altering car accident, after which I was robbed by an EMT, scammed by my phone company, abandoned by a large number of colleagues and friends, and shamed and patronized by a number of doctors and insurance staff for being female, single, and self-employed, all while making a living as a musician. It's been a bit of an ordeal, and I am now living with the repercussions of a potentially career-altering injury. I also nearly lost my teaching business and, as a result, the roof over my head. Eleven months later, I'm just now starting to get my quality of life back to a somewhat reasonable level. And, nobody knows what the injury is or how to fix it. So, that's something I'm going to have to contend with for a long time."Lily has begun to tell her story of the ordeal here in this article which will continue over the next couple of months or so and you can read the first installment here: Guitarist V. Geico Round One. Lily Maase has also been featured in Guitar World, which I can't seem to actually find on the Guitar World site and is the founder of The Rocket Queens.
Remember the NWOBHM (New Wave Of British Heavy Metal) movement that began in the late 70's/early 80's with bands such as Iron Maiden, Def Leppard, Judas Priest, Saxon and many more? Many of the bands that fall into this sub-genre or category are securely placed among my all time favorites, and pretty much any band playing that style is something that I enjoy. Well, I'm pleased to announce that classic formula NWOBHM in all it's headbanging glory is alive and well in Pittsburg! Wait....Pittsburg? That's not in the UK! But yes, that's right, there is a group of young folks (in their twenties at my best guess) from Pittsburg, USA that are serving up huge heaping steaming bowlfuls of blistering metal. The name of this savior of NWOBHM comes in the form of Lady Beast. In fact, if one did not know one might venture to say that they originated during the NWOBHM period.
The beginnings of Lady Beast can be traced back to 2008/9, but it wasn't until 2011/12 that the lineup was solidified with frontwoman Deborah Levine, drummer Adam Ramage, bassist Greg Colaizzi and the twin axe assault of Tommy Kinnett and Chris "Twiz" Tritschler. Somehow the band's (originally) self-released and titled debut album found its way into my extensive musical library and has been spun quite regularly in the past couple of years. The old school throwback to the NWOBHM that oozes throughout Lady Beast nods to some of the greats mentioned above, blending together the best elements of the era. Finding out (through some internet research) that the album actually contains compositions written by four different guitarists was quite surprising and while the album is certainly not perfect, it succeeds on every level!
So, when Lady Beast was the fifth and final band to be announced as appearing at the M-Pre-Party (prelude and party starter to the M3 Festival in Baltimore) on April 30, 2015 I was instantly pumped. 2014 had been my first M3 Festival (including M-Pre Party), instantly creating a new addiction and I was ready to experience it all over again in 2015, but this was just like the sugary frosted icing on the cake. I re-visited said debut record and still continue to do so as a portion of my gym workout playlist. This Lady Beast live set promises to be one of the clear highlights of the three-day rock fest for me.
Does it get any better than that?...Well, actually yes it does! Lady Beast are unleashing their sophomore effort on March 27 with a live show release party at Cativo in Pittsburgh on March 28, 2015. I wonder if I can slip away from work? (searches flights in another internet window as he types this)
In contacting the band frontwoman, Deborah Levine, she was more than kind enough to forward me the album's MP3 tracks for the purpose of this review and all I can say is "Holy crap!". This album, while not overly inventively titled (Lady Beast II), absolutely kicks ass! Holding true to the NWOBHM style and could have easily fit in with the bigger guns of the era. Lady Beast II is even stronger, more cohesive and polished than the debut and it's easy to see how the solidified lineup and maturity in the band along with all members contributing cohesively to the process have worked wonders.
The album opens with "Heavy Metal Destiny" for which the band issued an advance YouTube video via their Facebook page in January, 2015 (included below). The track starts out ominously before a nice little riff begins surging it forward as it gives off an Iron Maiden style of epicness. An awesome opener to Lady Beast II! "We Are The Witches" is the next selection exhibiting a catchy chorus to it. With Levine's vocal style, which is not as high-pitched or shrill as some, she's more Doro-ish in her delivery and that's a lot of what comes through to me on this track. The whole band shines on "Bind The Runes" with its tempo changing chorus, driving riff, meaty basslines and machine-gun drumming. "Caged Fury" lyrically deals with inner anger issues I think, a message to those finding themselves in that situation. Another thumping bassline from Colaizzi (who owns Cobra Cabana Records responsible for issuing Lady Beast II on vinyl) can be heard during "Heroes Of Our Time", another track waving the Maiden flag. In a little internet searching it appears that "The Frost Giant's Daughter" was actually released on YouTube in 2013 (link below) and is not a cover of The Sword's 2008 track of the same name. This one blazes along and is over far too quickly for me at just under three minutes. "Forrest Of The Impaled" seems to tell a macabre tale while "Lose To Win" is a straight out classic rocker. While it's more than a difficult chore to choose one track over the rest here for winner of the "Top of the Heap" accolade, if you held a gun to my head I'd have to go with the album's closer of "Banshee". It's grinding and abrasive, smashing through from start to finish in a catchy fist-pumping anthem. Sure hope that one makes the live set on April 30! The sadness that you feel when the record is over can easily be alleviated by doing as I do and hitting play all over again. After listening several times a day since receiving the album ten days before writing this review, I still haven't had enough! The Lady Beast simply roars and for optimum results I recommend playing at an ear-bleedingly loud volume!
All throughout Lady Beast II you can hear the influences or draw comparisons to some of these bands and players, for example at points Levine has a Doro style of delivery and some have even said an impressive resemblance to the late great Ronnie James Dio. There's also a little Halford mixed in there but at times she feels a little restrained. I would love to hear Deb let loose with a primal blood-curdling scream or two (and she does on "Banshee"), I can literally feel that power in her lungs! In any case, I say that Doro should rest comfortably knowing that there is a protegee out there to carry on her "Metal Queen" reign should she retire.
***Unfortunately, I have just discovered that after the album's release show guitarist Tommy Kinnett will be calling an end to his tenure with Lady Beast so he will not be performing at the M-Pre Party. Apparently the decision to leave in order to concentrate on his family life was an amicable one with no "bad blood" on either side. It is already announced that Lady Beast's original lead guitarist, Stephen Lauck, having recently moved back to Pittsburgh from California will be stepping in.***
Dallas, Texas has delivered the hard rock world a band called Secret Of Boris and their debut release Your Ghost. The album was released through Cabo Records internationally on March 10, 2015. From all internet scouring (ok, who's kidding who, I didn't spend hours and hours on it) I cannot seem to unearth the meanings or reasons for the odd band name, Secret Of Boris. I did, however, learn that they have been around for a few years and consist of Ryan Ragus' bass licks, Ryan Arthur's pounding drum beats, Ryan Byrd's guitars riffage and Cameron Taylor's vocal stylings. Anyone else have that kid's song (from Sesame Street I think, but maybe that's only a Canadian thing) "One of these things isn't like the other" in your head? I say that Cameron ought to just change his name to Ryan and then maybe the secret can be in their names, but who the hell is Boris? Songwriter Cameron Taylor has cited influences by the likes of King's X, A.I.C., Pearl Jam, NIN, Type O Negative and Rammstein and from everything I see, the Your Ghost album promises an interesting blend of catchy hooks, snappy rhythms, and aggressive riffage but also melodic, progressive, indie, mainstream metal, and pop styles. Seems a little off beat for my tastes, but I'm feeling adventurous today.
"Virus" blasts out of the gates with a fast paced industrial sort of tinged track displaying some of that "aggressive riffage" mentioned above. I'm not too sure just what I was actually expecting, but this wasn't it....this is actually pretty good and with multiple plays has really grown on me. Check out their first official video for "Virus" below. "Desert Blood" appears next and offers a rather stark contrast to the opener, starting out a little more electronically before blossoming into a hard rocking track with a melodic chorus. Just when you're comfortable with that the tempo switches to a vocally growling metal assault momentarily about halfway through. "What You Became" starts off sounding like an easy fit on rock radio, but after the last composition I'm ready for anything! I did notice that the tracks thus far blend together seamlessly with little to no dead air space in between. And here comes the "pop" influences or sound with the beginnings of "Lost In A Daze", but it doesn't last too long as the riffage kicks in for the chorus. "Retro" starts out chugging with a heavy riff, a chunky groove and some interesting vocal and tempo changes that sail along in one of the clear standouts. Another layer in the Secret of Boris is revealed next with the slower paced, yet still groove-laden "Fall Down" containing some emotional messages. With twelve songs on Your Ghost and what we've already experienced I can't help but wonder what little surprise is next. Secret Of Boris deliver another catchy selection in "Something Else", with a kind of mainstream alternative feel (if that makes any sense to anyone but me) and featuring a chorus that has potential to rattle around in your head for sometime afterwards. "The Difference" showcases more tempo changes, keeping things interesting, while "The Watcher" infectiously grooves along. "What Have You Done" serves up some more of Byrd's thick, beefy riffs and "From Now On" is consistent with the genre-crossing hybrid of styles found here. Your Ghost wraps up with the title track, a plodding, slower paced affair that does little to impress me, but adds yet another layer/dimension to the album.
There are certainly many layers contained on this album. Ranging from melodic choruses to venomous verses, tempo changes and an ever changing feel from industrial to alternative to pop and the groovy vibes exuded from Your Ghost, I'd say that there's something for everyone here. Honestly, sometimes I like it, sometimes I don't have the patience for it.....a different release for sure.
Touted as one of the best live bands in the area (Dallas, Texas) their stage shows are reportedly consistently powerful, crowd captivating with energy and leaving audiences hungry for more. Secret Of Boris performed a successful celebration of Your Ghost's international release on March 14, 2015 at The Curtain Club in Dallas and they have another event planned for March 28, 2015 at The Rail Club in Fort Worth, Texas. If you're in the area check out the show and let me know how these guys are live.
Who or what is a Juno Award, you might ask, that is unless you're from Canada. Well simply put, The Juno Awards are Canada's equivalent to The Grammy's and showcase the best in Canadian music from genres across the board. The Juno Awards are named for Pierre Juneau who was the first president of the Canadian Radio-television and Telecommunications Commission and former president of the Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The awards began in 1970 and celebrate the best in Canadian musical artists, acknowledging their artistic and technical achievements in all aspects of music. Prior to the Awards, the host city features "Juno Week" with Juno related concerts and activities in the days leading up to the official ceremony.
As a part of 2015's Juno Week in Hamilton, Ontario eOne Entertainment and Gibson guitars held The Gibson All-Star 2015 Juno Extravaganza and Decibel Geek was invited to the event! I'm not too sure who made the mistake of inviting The Meister as Decibel Geek's representative, but I wasn't turning it down! The email evite contained only a R.S.V.P. which offered little information about the event taking place on Saturday March 14, 2015, the night before the actual Juno Awards. So I sent an email:
"My name is Rich "The Meister" Dillon and I'm a writer with Decibel Geek. I'd like to thank you for the opportunity to represent Decibel Geek at The Gibson All-Star Juno Extravaganza 2015 on March 14. Never having attended the event previously I had a couple of questions and I could find no information online. 1. What's the dress code for the event? Being a rocker my usual outing attire consists of ripped jeans and a sleeveless rock t-shirt, but that won't go over well if this is a black tie event. 2. Will there be any performances/special guests and if so who would they be?" Answer: "1. No dress code, come as you are. 2. 13 artists from 9pm-3am, but can't say who they are, only that all of them are JUNO Award winners/noms." It all sounds so mysterious.
Liuna Station was where the event was being held (revealed only after you R.S.V.P.'ed) and the banquet hall was quite nice inside and a fairly large stage set-up. I certainly felt a little out of my element but was prepared to leave my 80's style hard rock and heavy metal bubble for a little while, expanding my horizons. For the most part, I was underdressed in my jeans, but hey, at least I threw on a collared shirt for the occasion! Learning earlier in the day that fellow Decibel Geek staff writer Kate Campbell was also going to be in attendance (invited as a guest of another invitee) the shenanigans ensued quite quickly as she discovered the Bacardi photo booth. So glad she was here tonight! (see photos below)!
The affair was underway with the Julian Taylor Band serving as the house band if you will. They treated the spiffy crowd to about a half an hour set of covers such as Tom Petty's "I Won't Back Down", Bruce Springsteen's "Dancing In The Dark" and others peppered with an original piece or two and I must say that they were quite good. Julian Taylor possessed an excellent voice and covered a wide range of material including, at one point Depeche Mode's "Personal Jesus". Their originals were also quite spirited especially the song announced as being from their new album which is named after the bar from the first Terminator movie, Tech Noir, and I'm definitely on the lookout to purchase the album....perhaps a Facebook message will assist me.
The Julian Taylor Band sometimes vacated the stage to make way for the next Juno winner/nominee performer and sometimes portions of them accompanied or provided the backing band for the performer on stage at the time. While I was unfamiliar with each and every artist aside from one, they each had fans in the audience and rightly so as they all seemed to perform well despite not being "my style". I wondered if we will be getting a hard rock or heavy metal band at some point? Definitely expanding my horizons. The hors d'oeuvres that began circling the crowd fully assisted in taking my attention and focus away from the performers on stage, well to be exact Kate playing the role of "food shark" as she trailed around the crowd following different hors d'oeuvres trays distracted me. All that was missing was the Jaws movie theme music as she sighted her prey and struck, snatching the tasty little morsels off of the silver platters.
Throughout the evening the performers that spent some time on stage included (and please don't crucify me if I missed someone or made a name error, but I've tried my best to get everyone) JUNO winner for "Country Album of the Year" Dallas Smith and his band for one song, country artist Meghan Patrick from Bowmanville, Ontario and The Once (a three piece band from NFLD). Alysha Brilla with the house band and her strong voice covered "(Sittin' On) The Dock Of The Bay" and an original with help from her sisters and publicist. JUNO Award winner Amelia Curran & Hamilton, Ontario's Harlan Pepper with Colin Linden delivered Teenage Head's "Let's Shake" (at least I'm pretty sure that's who was on stage for that excellent cover!). When Tom Wilson (of Junkhouse...and the only performer I knew) graced the stage with his band Blackie & The Rodeo Kings (also featuring Colin Linden) he spoke into the mic "What we've got up here is a bunch of JUNO losers!" before breaking into Junkhouse's "Out Of My Head" I had forgotten about this song/band and how much I played that cassette when it came out in the early 90's, in any case it was friggin' awesome to hear it tonight, a definite highlight! This performance was followed by a rap/hip-hop style artist, Kardinal Offishall who called for the crowd to come closer and they responded as such (I did quite the opposite). He probably had the biggest response, the crowd the most into things I'd seen yet, but I'd never even heard of him before this and had to ask someone nearby for the name. Steve Strongman, Steve Hill & Matt Anderson teamed up to deliver some awesome "dirty blues" next, more albums to search out for. It wasn't metal, but ole Meister can certainly groove to this! Amanda Rheaume ripped through some covers like The Black Crowes' "Hard To Handle" and The Rolling Stones' "Honkytonk Woman". I personally was definitely preferring the latter half of the acts, but maybe that's because the comedic "food shark" had vacated and I was simply paying more attention. The Dead South from Regina, Saskatchewan were something different with their bluegrass style and served up an amazing cover of "House Of The Rising Son" from The Animals before Lindsay Broughton took the stage with the house band for spirited versions of the rock n roll/blues classic "Shake, Rattle & Roll", Fleetwood Mac's "Dreams" and more, taking us well past 2AM! Finally at around 2:30AM the now rather sparse audience was aurally abused by what I'd been searching for all night long...loud, heavy, smashing, headbanging music! It was served up in the form of a band that I had as yet unheard of (a theme of the evening it seems), The Wild! The Wild! hail from the West Coast Canadian Province of British Columbia and when they hit the stage, literally assaulting the audience's ears, I was jolted alive. Described on the band's Facebook page as "the bastard son of AC/DC and ZZ Top", The Wild! have recently signed to eOne Entertainment and I'm now waiting to get my hands on their forthcoming album. Check out this video from the event for their song "Road House".
After The Wild's blistering three song assault I drained the remainder of my final adult beverage and headed toward the door, pausing only briefly to check out the evening's final performer (I missed their names) with their cover of Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell" before I spilled out into the cold dark night. Now to kill time in a 24hr A&W until the next bus to Union Station, Toronto at 4:30AM, then waste 2 hours there until the next bus north to Newmarket at 8AM....what a long night and a chore to make it home!
What did I learn at the eOne/Gibson All-Star 2015 Juno Extravaganza?
#1-Well, I'm rather seriously out of touch with some of my own country's musical talents and not just in genres that I usually avoid, but all around. Time to search out Julian Taylor, Steve Strongman, The Wild! and others all while spinning my age old copy of Junkhouse's Strays.
#2-If you get invited to an event such as this in the future, book a hotel room you idiot so that you don't have literally hours of bus travel to and from, finally reaching your bed at around 9AM, you're too old for this shit nowadays!
Canadian music offers some of the best in the world across all genres and tastes so check some out! Some of my favorite local area bands include Diemonds, Sarasin, Skrou, Shock and Wild T & The Spirit.
Trucker Diablo is a straight up, no frills hard rock band out of Northern Ireland whose Songs Of Iron CD from 2013 made The Meister's best albums list of that year. The Songs Of Iron album is loaded with fist pumping, thunderous rock anthems with songs such as "Red Light On", "Drive" and "Not So Superstar" that are still fairly regular listens for me. Here's a link to The Meister's review of Songs Of Iron: The Big Truck Keeps On Rolling
Trucker Diablo are made up of Tom Harte and Simon Haddock both on guitar and vocals, Terry Crawford behind the kit and newcomer Jim McGurk taking over bass duties from Glenn Harrison. The boys started Trucker Diablo in 2008 in Northern Ireland and have cited influences such as C.C.R., AC/DC, Metallica, Anthrax, Annihilator and Thin Lizzy.
Well, I'm excited to say that the boys are back in town again with a new album titled Rise Above The Noise almost a full year after they announced an indefinite hiatus. According to the press release "Rise Above The Noise was funded by a very successful pledge campaign, and features 10 songs mostly written during the downtime of the last 12 months, sees the band expand their songwriting, monster up their riffs and pull out those big choruses that made their peers like Ricky Warwick, Cormac Neeson and Ginger Wildheart take notice!" Sounds great to me! Let's give 'er a spin!
I suspect that my track listing could be a little off here as there seems to be conflicting numbers assigned to the MP3 download files that the band was kind enough to forward to me for the purpose of this review, but I'll go through in the order that they play in for me. "Fight Life" gets things rolling with exactly what I expected on this third Trucker Diablo outing with it's almost angry riff leading the charge and melding into the melodic chorus. Friggin' great tune and start to this new offering! "Don't Cry" is a ballad, which anyone reading my reviews knows is a style that I'm not particularly a fan of, and plays in the number two spot for me but is also labeled #3 and #10. For my particular tastes, I would say that this one is better served as the album's closer, which it appears to be in some online searches. "Party Like They Started The End Of The World" reads #9 and also #2 (getting confusing, eh?) and is more of the hard pumping anthem rock that Trucker Diablo does so well. "Somebody Save Me" is a slower style fare, something that I could definitely hear on rock radio (if there is even such a thing anymore). "We Stand Strong" starts out pounding, never lets up and has already graduated to the MP3 player. Fists in the air kids, this is solid rock n' roll! The tender piano (supplied by The Quireboys' Keith Weir) of "Where Angels Fly" starts this ballad off before the rest of the band jumps in. Again this song is well written and executed, but I just personally have trouble digging the ballad fare. Things kick up several notches with the Thin Lizzy-ish "Girl In A Photograph" and its amazing solo. "Girl In A Photograph" is probably the winner of the top accolade award for Rise Above The Noise and joins its brethren in MP3-land. The grinding, southern swamp-bluesy feel to "Take Me To The River" adds another dimension to the album with it's low-end while the hooks and sing-along chorus vocals contained in the interestingly titled "Murder Ballad" are able to maintain my interest, but "Sun Deprives The Day" simply shines all around.
Trucker Diablo have definitely added another dimension to their repertoire here expanding on the slower-paced ballad compositions, a little too much so for my particular fancy, but overall a very satisfying record. Will this one make the cut for best of 2015 list as Songs Of Iron did in 2013?
Something tells me these guys kick some ass and leave it all on the stage in concert! Expect to see Trucker Diablo out on the road as they've already announced appearances at three big UK festivals, now if we could just get them over here in North America!
If someone had told the ten-year-old (or thereabouts) me that years later I would be going to see the band live that did that song for a beer commercial I'd have thought you were nuts! Yes, that's right way back in the 80's the Foreigner song "Cold As Ice" appeared in a beer commercial. I don't remember what the beer was, but I'm told that I quite enjoyed the tune when it came on, dancing around the family living room. I guess I was a rocker at an early age.
Some years later Foreigner became the classic rock/dock rock soundtrack of the summer as friends and I hung out at someone's cottage which included sitting on the dock ("Dock Rock") and also some "Cold As Ice" beverages. Foreigner has been with me for a good portion of my life and even though they're not something that I gravitate to for regular listening enjoyment, hearing the tunes in a live setting just makes sense.
Now some may say why would I bother to go to see Foreigner since there's no original members left in the band? Well, that's technically not wholly true as, to my understanding, Mick Jones, founding guitarist is still an official member of Foreigner but is hampered from playing and touring due to illness. That aside what you do get with a Foreigner show are professional musicians playing some of the best classic rock for that nostalgia of my youth. Among those professional musicians are vocalist Kelly Hansen in the position originally held down by Lou Gramm. Hansen has been at the helm of Foreigner since about 2005, but some may know him from the incredible late 80's band Hurricane who issued four stellar records. But even better than that is bassist Jeff Pilson. Name not familiar? Well, try this on for size, Jeff Pilson was the longtime bassist and member of 80's sensation Dokken featuring the vocals of Don Dokken and guitar wizardry of George Lynch who sold over 10 million records worldwide. So my question is why wouldn't you go and see Foreigner? And I wasn't the only one as two back to back nights at Casino Rama in Orillia, Ontario were both sold out, not to mention that two weeks before that the band was in Kitchener, Ontario to another sold out crowd. That's three shows circling the Toronto area, all sold out!
Looking around the casino auditorium this was a little different style of crowd than The Meister's usual concert forays...I felt young again! Things began on time with a recorded into and an announcer requesting the audience to "Please welcome ...Foreigner!" As the band filled out the stage, "Double Vision" from their 1978 Double Vision album led the charge. Whether Pilson was aware of it or not his bass was horribly loud, like in a bad way, at least from our seats way up on the mezzanine at the back of the auditorium anyway. The bass was thundering over the guitars which seemed a little dull in the mix, something that I think they should have sorted by now as this was the second of the two shows. The bass seemed to calm down a little during the second number of "Head Games" as the band had lots of space to roam around on the good sized stage. Hansen took a moment to address the crowd and when I say "address" I mean he heckled some latecomers
and was actually quite funny about it. He said that we were "already a better crowd than last night" whom he couldn't get out of their seats he added hintingly. Yes, that's right, this was the first concert I've attended in forever where the whole audience (aside from a few at stage front) were remaining seated! The beer commercial soundtrack "Cold As Ice" was next on the roster, making me crave another ice cold beverage, unfortunately, such things were banned from this auditorium. With his voice sounding amazing, Hansen vacated the stage, running up the aisle through the audience and climbing onto the mezzanine before regaining the stage to wrap up "Cold As Ice" before taking a moment to catch his breath and more humorous monolog about being out of breath. The bass had seemed to have settled down a little and the band really started sounding great. After announcing that they would be looking for the most romantic couple slow dancing for this next one, he said that there may even be a prize for that couple. A few couples began dancing in the aisles as "Waiting For A Girl Like You" started, but before long the floor aisles and even the mezzanine were packed with dancers. "Dirty White Boy" followed before Hansen informed us that the next song used to be full electric, but Jeff Pilson had concocted a new arrangement as they performed a great acoustic rendition of "Say You Will". Now it was time for the band introductions as Hansen told some jokes about each band member while introducing them to the audience. Quite a humorous bit, but a little too lengthy for my tastes and serving to notch down the energy a little. Kelley then began to virtually beg people to get out of their seats and by the first
chorus of "Feels Like The First Time" almost everyone in the whole place was on their feet. Finally! You can't see a rock concert sitting down, it's just wrong! Alas, I was obviously outnumbered as at the completion of the song everyone was again seated. The beginning of "Urgent" saw a few return to the standing position, but for me I felt a little awkward as the only one standing in my balcony seating area and blocking those behind me. The following keyboard/drum (timewaster) solo lost any momentum gained as everyone again took their seats. The lengthy version of "Jukebox Hero" got people up again though without too much trouble. The whole band sounded absolutely incredible on this track and Hansen can sure hold a note. After a brief respite of stage silence, the cheering audience quelled down once Foreigner again took the stage with "Long, Long Way From Home". Unfortunately, a good portion of the crowd was once again seated and it appeared that there were even more than a few vacant seats as people had left the event early, something that wasn't lost on Hansen as he again quipped about the seating. He's quite the comedian with a good presence and fabulous crowd interaction, man I wish I'd been able to see Hurricane! The Orillia Vocal Ensemble choir all dressed in black filled the stage around the band for "I Want To Know What Love Is" before a little guitar solo led off "Hot Blooded" which saw Pilson and keyboardist Michael Bluestein switch instruments half way through.
Foreigner did what they could to rock this rather dull (well maybe different people just enjoy live music in different ways) crowd in what was overall a great performance. If I had one complaint, it would be the shortness of the setlist with only 12 songs performed. Yes, the show lasted for almost two hours but I would rather have heard another tune or two such as my favorite "That Was Yesterday" instead of so much talking/crowd banter and the solo portion. That aside, get out and see this band as they roll through your town....who knows maybe Mick Jones will feel up to it that night and be on stage for you!
PHOTOS SUPPLIED BY: DECIBEL GEEK STAFF PHOTOGRAPHER BRIAN RONALD (Taken at the February 7, 2015 Foreigner concert in Kitchener, Ontario)
Skrou is a Toronto area band whose moniker is derived from a play on words from frontman and founder Sam Kirou's name. Some time ago I was able to catch up with the hard working band at their
gig at Fionn MacCool's Irish Pub in Newmarket Ontario. No-one ever plays in my little north of Toronto town of Newmarket, but Skrou have not left us off of their concert map. These guys often play smaller towns all around the Southern Ontario region and present a rock and roll show including covers of some of the greatest "80's hair-style" music and also their own awesome compositions. Skrou have released their debut CD (reviewed here on Decibel Geek by Wallygator: "Giving Us A Place To Shake" LINK) back in January 2014. The band has released two official videos for songs from that album, "A Place To Shake" and "Rock It Away", but my favorite "Cold Heart" is still waiting for its chance at a video. Skrou have recently appeared on a local TV station CHCH during the "Live Music Fridays" segment performing their "A Place To Shake" song live in the studio (Skrou on CHCH TV LINK) and also been interviewed on Naked News Network (Skrou on Naked News LINK).
I was able to catch up with the boys at the bar in between their sets for a quick interview. Lead vocalist Sam Kirou, guitarist J.D. Fine and bassist R.C. Ricci took a few moments after the first set to answer some of my questions as the four of us crowded the rather small stage. The intention was to present this short interview in a video format, but due to some technical difficulties I am forced to present it in print format and I offer my apologies to Skrou for this issue. Here are the basics of our little chat:
After everyone introduced themselves for the camera, I asked how they had all come together. Sam fielded the question stating that "basically I found some of the best guys in Toronto that fit this band and what we do." as guitarist J.D. Fine added that Sam had scouted them out of other bands.
Skrou are one of the hardest working bands I've seen around, playing shows all over Southern Ontario and when I asked about this bassist R.C. Ricci jumped in with "Well, this year, 2014 that is, we did over 75 plus shows" as Sam and J.D. both echoed that the band was on the same pace again for 2015. That's basically every weekend of the year!
Sam says, "We hope that 2015 will be the breakout year for us. Something bigger than Ontario. And we have Rock Solid Entertainment on our side now as well." So what is Rock Solid? "Rock Solid is a management company out of the U.K." J.D. Fine answers as Sam quickly adds in "managed by Phil Taylor" as J.D. continues, "he's giving us a hand, guiding us and sort of letting us run through the candy store.". This is definitely great news for a local Toronto band to have Rock Solid guiding them along.
What about the debut CD? "We released it ourselves," Sam tells me. "We self-promoted, we rented out a club in Toronto and it was a successful night apart from some shenanigans at the end of the night."
"I can't believe we just used the word shenanigans," J.D. Fine embarrassingly says. "Well, we are in an Irish pub!" I offer as consolation.
When I asked where people can purchase the CD Sam responded with, "The debut CD or the new CD?" Hold on...there's a new CD?
"Right now we're working on it. We have all the chemicals in the vat and we're letting it congeal," says bassist R.C. Ricci.
Sam laughs as he adds, "It's sort of like a Breaking Bad kinda thing right now. I think you guys are gonna enjoy this new CD. It's gonna be heavy, a little heavier and darker than this first CD."
"Thanks for taking this time boys," I wrap things up as they all echo "Thanks to Decibel Geek for supporting live music."
Don't miss an evening of great rock and roll at the Skrou Rocks Show as it rolls through your town!
Shooting Angels was born in Switzerland in 2014 as a result of a night spent by drummer Alex "Black Cat" and guitarist Lee "The Kid" in a strip club after their jam session. The concept presented to them in their drunken stupor in the form of a hot stripper spewing off pothead talk about the end of the world with the "skies opening up and the angels coming down to earth to kill every human, eating them alive and releasing their souls to hell". And so the band concept was born. Many male singers were auditioned for the position, but it was the kick ass-ery of female vocalist Lola Van Loo that won out to front Shooting Angels. February 2015 saw the release of the Deal With The Devil EP which was recorded, mixed, mastered and produced by Federico Truzzi and shortly afterward guitarist Fabian joined the trio. Now Shooting Angels and their Deal With The Devil EP have found their way to The Meister!
The EP begins with the ominous thunder and rain intro to "This Is War" and this track has a straight ahead rock feel to it with a harmonic, leaning towards symphonic, chorus that becomes quite catchy. Loo shows that she possesses the dulcet tones of the very angels the band is hunting (according to their little bio) at the outset of "Mirror, Mirror" before the rest of the angel hunters join in. The band's title song, "Shooting Angels" is up next and seems to follow the little back story from the band's bio about just what the title suggests. Featuring an insanely memorable chorus that rolls around in my head days later, this is the gem of the assemblage for me. The four song EP wraps up with the title track "Deal With The Devil", another solid composition. All four tracks are available on the Shooting Angels YouTube channel and I have included the links below.
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