Archive for October, 2009

*Footage & photos by Kenny Howell

WBRU-FM celebrated its 40^th anniversary Saturday night at Lupo’s Heartbreak Hotel in Providence, RI and they invited a couple friends – CAGE THE ELEPHANT and SILVERSUN PICK UPS.

Kentucky-bred CAGE THE ELEPHANT kicked off the festivities with an hour long set and they kept true to their Southern roots with bluegrass twang and gritty undertones. Lead singer MATT SHULTZ was in constant motion with his maniacal vigor and magnetism and I cannot recall seeing a band rock so enthusiastically as this five piece.

They kicked out tunes from their self-titled debut including the bass-propelled groove of “In One Ear,” the instantly addictive “Ain’t No Rest For The Wicked” and the surge-n-stomp single “Back Against The Wall.”

CAGE THE ELEPHANT displayed enough raw talent and passion to suggest they can outlast many of the musical trends.

I was anxious to see SILVERSUN PICKUPS because SWOON is definitely one of my favorite albums of 2009 and I was curious to see how it would translate live.

The set opened with “There’s No Secrets This Year” and included the Pixies-ish “Well Thought Out Twinkles,” and the overdosed treble and layers of distortion of “Panic Switch.” The highlight of the set was “Catch and Release” one of the album’s finest moments – both lyrically and sonically.

SSPU’s played like a melodic wall of noise with a surge of guitar squalls highlighted by the beautiful and sometimes haunting harmonies of bass player NIKKI MONNINGER. I will admit I often thought that BRIAN AUBERT ’s vocals on the CD might were overdubbed to achieve his sound but after seeing them live there is no doubt those  robust  and atmospheric rousing vocals are legit.

It was apparent that the majority of the sold-out was here to see the SSPU. Often the breaks between songs were extended to accommodate all of the rambunctious applause and the band seemed primed to adore every minute of it.

For more information  visit SILVERSUN PICKUPS & CAGE THE ELEPHANT

For more footage visit us on YOUTUBE

For more photos visit us on FLICKER

THE STOOGES: The Authorized and Illustrated Story

by Robert Matheu, Jeffrey Morgan, Alice Cooper (Foreword)

(Abrams; October 2009; $35.00)

Legendary rocker Alice Cooper has written the foreword to “The Stooges: The Authorized and Illustrated Story” (Abrams Books, October 1), the first-ever authorized book about THE STOOGES, including iconic photographs, classic interviews, and vintage articles and ephemera dating from the band’s breakout performances in Detroit in the late 1960s through their most recent shows in 2008.

Formed in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1967, THE STOOGES are icons of modern rock, influencing the fledgling sounds of punk, heavy metal, and hard core. From the beginning, lead singer and provocateur Iggy Pop (born James Osterberg) astounded audiences with his outrageous stage performances, accompanied by guitarist Ron Asheton, his drummer brother Scott Asheton, and bassist Dave Alexander with their raw and bracing sound. The group disbanded in 1974, but reunited in 2003 to play before a vastly expanded fan base of over 10 million devotees worldwide.
With contributions from noted music journalists Dave DiMartino, Ben Blackwell, Ivan Suvanjieff, Brian J. Bowe, and Machine Rock, as well as acclaimed photographers Joel Brodsky, Ed Caraeff, Mick Rock, and Lisa Gottlieb, “The Stooges: The Authorized and Illustrated Story” gives readers the definitive account of how these icons of rock ‘n’ roll redefined music, performance, and expectations, time and time again.

To read the complete article visit BLABBERMOUT.NET

AN EDUCATION IN REBELLION: The Biography of Nikki Sixx
by Jake Brown
(Rock ‘N’ Roll Books; October 2009)

Rock ‘N’ Roll Books/SCB Distribution will reissue “An Education in Rebellion: The Biography of Nikki Sixx” with a brand new cover.

Packed with star-studded exclusive interview material with MÖTLEY CRÜE drummer Tommy Lee, SIXX: A.M. frontman/songwriting partner James Michael, legendary producer Bob Rock, female rock icon Lita Ford, late QUIET RIOT frontman Kevin DuBrow , ‘80s CRÜE producer Tom Werman, ’90s producer Scott Humphrey, former MÖTLEY CRÜE/BRIDES OF DESTRUCTION guitarist/vocalist John Corabi, side-project 58 co-producer Dave Darling, former LONDON bandmate Lizzy Grey, legendary rock photographer Neil Zlozower, former KISS guitarist Bruce Kulick, recovery counselor Bob Timmons, and a host of others contributing commentary on the life and times of MÖTLEY CRÜE founder/lead songwriter/bassist Nikki Sixx.

Originally released in 2002, the 320-plus-page book has been entirely re-edited, updated through 2009, and features a two-disc bonus sampler featuring original bands influenced by the music of Sixx/MÖTLEY CRÜE.

To read the complete article visit BLABBERMOUTH.NET

“I wish I could go back in time,” Wayne Coyne yelps on the Flaming Lips’ 12th record. In a sense, he has: These psych-rock mystics haven’t sounded so off-the-wall since they were Oklahoma acidheads in the Eighties. Most of Embryonic sounds like laid-back echoes of Miles Davis’ early-1970s skronk jazz, with distorted funk grooves undercutting pillowy vibraphones and zonked electronics. Despite tons of studio chaff (five songs are fragments named after zodiac signs), a theme emerges, something about keying into the cosmos by relinquishing control. Hippie hokum? Maybe. But the Lips have always been able to subvert pie-eyed whimsy with a sense of homespun beauty, and there’s plenty of that here too.

To hear some new tunes visit MYSPACE

To read the complete review visit ROLLING STONE

Clothing lines, nightclubs, restaurants and vineyards are so 2000-and-late. The hip place for celebs to invest these days is NFL teams. Just ask the Black Eyed Peas’ Fergie.

*Footage & photos by Kenny Howell

During a stellar 12-song, 80-minute set, THEM CROOKED VULTURES went on to prove they are one of the rarest and tightest units in rock. Nowadays, the term “supergroup” gets thrown around like a groupie at a Poison concert but to call THEM CROOKED VULTURES a supergroup would be a disservice.

The group includes rock alumni JOSH HOMME (Queens of The Stone Age/Eagles of Death Metal/Kyuss) on guitar and lead vocals, DAVE GROHL (Foo Fighters/Nirvana) on drums, JOHN PAUL JONES (Led Zeppelin) on bass/organ and longtime Homme affiliate ALAIN JOHANNES (Queens of The Stone Age/Eleven) on rhythm guitar.

TCV music has been held in anonymity. No tracks have been leaked and the only samples that are available are on the bands YouTube channel.  But even those are only 30 second clips and even their MySpace page music player is empty. My only regret is that I listened to several bootlegs before the show. In hindsight, I think I would have preferred to discover the music live.

GROHL was astonishing! With his brute force and finesse he was invigorating and exhausting to observe at close immediacy. He played long and complicated fills between hi-hat, snare and floor tom without ever losing the songs’ propulsive drive. It was apparent why JOSH HOMME chose him to anchor the finest QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE album, “Songs for the Deaf” (2002).

HOMME handled lead vocals and guitar laying the foundation with hard edges and playing precision just as he does in QOTSA. And JOHN PAUL JONES, whose music with LED ZEPPELIN is an obvious touchstone for both his bandmates, was a huge presence and match for GROHL’s power and a counterpoint for Homme’s melodies. They sounded fresh, invigorating, tight and just plain nasty.

Also, if you expecting to hear any material from FOO FIGHTERS, QUEENS OF THE STONE AGE or LED ZEPPELIN you will sadly be disappointed.  TCV only play material from their forthcoming album and they do not return for a trendy encore.

As history has shown, most supergroups usually don’t last usually last past their debut album but at least this particular one is off to a exciting start.  A debut album has been completed but a release date has yet to be confirmed.

SETLIST:

• Elephants
• Dead End Friends
• Scumbag Blues
• Gunman
• Caligulove
• Bandolier
• Highway One *First time performed live
• Interlude /w ludes
• Mind Eraser No Chaser
• New Fang
• Nobody Loves Me and Neither Do I
• Warsaw

For more information  visit THEM CROOKED VULTURES

For more footage visit us on YOUTUBE

For more photos visit us on FLICKER