This week's new releases (Aug. 1)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
DMX "Year of the Dog...Again" - I thought he retired, but he's back... again.
Five for Fighting "Two Lights" - I'm willing to bet money that it's mellow.
Powerman 5000 "Destroy What You Enjoy" - And I'm willing to bet this one's anything but mellow.
Stone Sour "Come What(ever) May" - Slipknot's Corey Taylor releases another album with his side project. Not too heavy, not too mellow, but just right - that's my guess.
As always, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week are: Reel Big Fish, The Pink Spiders
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 6:43 AM | Comments (1)
July 30, 2006Concert revew: Willie Nelson/John Fogerty
John Fogerty with Willie Nelson
July 29, 2006
Alltel Pavilion
Raleigh, N.C.
Two of music's finest hit the stage in Raleigh on Saturday night for a diverse and entertaining evening.
While the ticket may have said 7:30, country music legend Willie Nelson hit the stage around 7:20.
With a large Texas flag hanging in the background, the 73-year-old strummed and sang his way through an hour-and-20-minute set.
"Georgia," "Crazy," "Whiskey River," "On the Road Again," "To All the Girls I've Loved Before" - they were all here.
He even sang a new song for the audience - a humorous song he wrote during a doctor's visit whose lyrics started something like, "Too many pills and too much pot, I'm trying to be someone I'm not. I ain't Superman."
He's still entertaining and many in attendance were happy to see him having so much fun on stage. It's no surprise that he left to a standing ovation.
John Fogerty followed the country crooner's quiet introduction with a loud and rocking set that lasted nearly two hours.
A video montage began his show, as the former frontman of Creedence Clearwater Revival hit the stage and tore into "Travelin' Band."
The Creedence-heavy, 24-song set was no surprise as I had the chance to catch Fogerty last year when he was on tour with John Mellencamp.
Dressed in blue jeans and a long-sleeve blue button-down, it was only a matter of minutes before sweat started to soak through his shirt.
By the end of the night, Fogerty was drenched, having spent the night running around on stage, jumping up and down and defying any stereotype that may be put on a man who is 61 years old.
A handful of songs into the show, Fogerty introduced Nelson who joined him for the song, "Jambalaya (On the Bayou)."
Fogerty didn't need a flashy stage as his music provided the message for most of the night.
For "Deja Vu (All Over Again," Fogerty spoke briefly about his time spent in Vietnam and how events of today are similar to that time period.
The song was performed while videos of Vietnam played on the screens to each side of the stage.
Once again, Fogerty played his baseball-bat shaped guitar for "Centerfield" and he closed the set with "Fortunate Son."
The volume was much louder for Fogerty than for Nelson, but most in the crowd didn't seem to care as they sang along or danced in their seats.
His two-song encore - "Bad Moon Rising" and "Proud Mary" - capped off an energetic evening by two living legends.
John Fogerty set list
Travelin' Band
Green River
Who'll Stop The Rain
It Came Out of the Sky
Jambalaya (On the Bayou) w/ Nelson
Born on the Bayou
Commotion
Rambunctious Boy
Lookin' Out My Back Door
Hot Rod Heart
The Midnight Special
Bootleg
Deja Vu (All Over Again)
Heard it Through the Grapevine
Have You Ever Seen the Rain
Keep On Chooglin'
Rock and Roll Girl
Hey Tonight
Down on the Corner
Centerfield
Up Around the Bend
The Old Man Down the Road
Fortunate Son
Encore
Bad Moon Rising
Proud Mary
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:24 AM | Comments (1)
July 28, 2006Metallica joins iTunes
Metallica has finally joined iTunes, and I say - "It's about time."
I understand why they didn't want to be part of Napster and the free trade of music, but I don't understand why they didn't want to have their songs sold online.
People are incresing their online music purchases thanks to iPods, so it makes sense to make your music available online.
Holdouts The Beatles, Led Zepplin and Radiohead still don't make their music available online. Maybe we don't want to listen to them, anyway.
After all, it's all about them, isn't it? Why should they care about their fans who want to hear their music? (Sarcasm included)
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:53 PM
July 26, 2006Fish out of water, Bass out of closet
NSync member Lance Bass has come out and announced that he's gay.
People who are on the Internet shouldn't be surprised by this, as it's been posted all over the place - along with photos of Bass out with his boyfriend - for months.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:43 PM
RockStar: Supernova Week 4
I was surprised by the tracks they played by the band this week. They sounded more like straight-up rock with a hint of blues. I definitely expected something harder, but that doesn't mean I was disappointed.
Here are my thoughts on this week's performances:
Lukas Rossi - He's still the front runner in the competition in my eyes. He's got a great stage presence and edge in his voice. He doesn't have the most powerful vocals, but with the right vocal coach, he'd be incredible. He kicked it up with his guitar toward the end of "Bittersweet Symphony" which was a nice touch.
Zayra Alvarez - She doesn't have a strong vocal, and her time is quickly winding down. She goes for sex appeal, but forgot some words while singing "Call Me" this week. It wasn't a good performance.
Dana Andrews - I always thought her vocals were great, but that she didn't fit the band. Finally, this week, she tore it up. The acoustic was good and I liked the edge in her vocal this week. It was the first time she sounded like she should be in the competition. The harder look for her image worked, too.
Patrice Pike - Her vocals were too smooth for the song. I prefer Chris Robinson's raspy vocals on "Remedy." She looks comfortable on stage, but needs more edge to her vocals.
Toby Rand - It was an odd arrangement of the song, "White Wedding," and I'm not sure I liked it. It wasn't the best for his vocals, but it was good. As usual, he seems like he's holding back a little, but he did bring it a little more at the end of the song. It got better as it went on.
Magni - He always looks comfortable on stage. His vocals started out weak, as if he was talking for "Heroes." The second verse was better and showed some of the power in his voice.
Ryan Star - Again, he doesn't look comfortable on stage or like he's having fun. His vocals sounded a little off for "I Alone" and he still looks nervous even though he fought for this song. He was more energetic, but still looked out of place.
Jill Gioia - Gilby Clarke was on stage with her for "Brown Suger" and the two worked well together. She has the attitude and looks comfortable on stage. She had a good bluesy vocal and it wasn't bad, but it didn't blow me away.
Phil Ritchie - The "Bobblehead" was back with his weak vocals for "One Headlight." It just looks like an act, and that his singing doesn't come naturally. I thought it was hilarious that they talked about the wobbling bobblehead. I'm glad I'm not the only one thinking that.
Dilana - Her tone was off for the straight singing in the beginning of "Time After Time." She didn't have much range. It got better toward the end when she brought some more volume and edge to it. I thought it was her worst performance, and the first time she stepped out of her comfort zone.
Josh Logan - He should have done the "Ripped Away" version of "No Rain." His vocals weren't as bad this weekk. He didn't do the Maroon 5/Stevie Wonder style. It wasn't great, but it was his best so far. Of course, then he asked the band to change their style, which was a big mistake.
Storm Large - I wasn't familiar with the song, but her vocals sounded good. She has the edge and the stage presence and put together a good performance.
It's only a matter of time for: Josh, Phil, Zayra and Patrice.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:45 AM
July 25, 2006Stripes on Simpsons
It was recently announced that one of the guest stars on the next season of "The Simpsons" will be The White Stripes.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:04 AM
July 24, 2006New Releases (7/25)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Edie Brickel and New Bohemians "Stranger Things" - I'm serious. The band is back together and they're releasing a new album. Yes, it's still 2006. As a fan of their earlier work, I'm interested to hear their latest effort.
Toby Lightman "Bird on a Wire" - The first single, "Holding Me Down" sounds a lot like KT Tunstall. I'm interested in hearing the rest. Stay tuned for a review.
Tom Petty "Highway Companion" - I had no idea he was still recording new music, but I'm glad to see that he is.
Pharrell "In My Mind" - His song "Can I Have it Like That?" came out last year, but the album's just being released now. Guests include Kanye West, Jay-Z, Gwen Stefani and Snoop Dogg. This is his first solo album, though he's been all over the airwaves for years.
As always, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week: Old Crow Medicine Show, Panda & Angel, White Whale, Wolf Eyes
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 6:48 AM
July 22, 2006CD Review: Les Claypool "Of Whales and Woe"
Release date:
12 tracks; 39:27
Primus frontman Les Claypool has put out a number of solo albums over the years under various monickers - The Flying Frog Brigade, Holy Mackerel, Sausage, etc.
For his latest release, "Of Whales and Woe," Claypool simply went with his own name - probably to avoid confusion.
Claypool thumps his way through 12 tracks and it's about what you'd expect from the bass virtuoso - a little odd, a little groovy and also a little impressive.
After all, it's difficult to deny Claypool's abilities on the musical front.
The CD kicks off with the strange, "Back Off Turkey," featuring his two kids, Cage and Lena.
From there, it goes into the rhythmic and funky "One Better."
"Iowan Girl" features Les' banjo bass while "Lust Stings" chugs along at a fine pace and would fit nicely on the "Highball with the Devil" album.
The title track is quite repetitive with a whispered vocal laid over top - it fits in with other songs in the Claypool catalog, but not quite as memorable.
You could almost say the same for "Vernon the Company Man."
The groove picks back up for "Phantom Patriot," which almost sounds like a cartoon theme song. "Nothin' Ventured" also has a nice sound to it and keeps the tempo upbeat.
The lone instrumental on the album (that's a full song), "Off-White Guilt," isn't even a bass showcase. It's more like some organized noise that Frank Zappa would be proud of.
The album, as a whole, isn't bad. While it doesn't contain the thunder of Tim Alexander or Larry Lalonde, it fits nicely with the rest of the non-Primus catalog.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:39 PM
July 21, 2006Concerts are big money
Nevermind the $10 parking fees and $5 beers, concerts tickets are incredibly expensive.
Did you pay $90 to see the Rolling Stones? Then you probably wouldn't be surprised to learn that the band was the top-grossing band for the first half of this year.
The band made more than $147 million in 45 shows.
Others in the top 10 were:
Billy Joel
Bon Jovi
Coldplay
and Trans Siberian Orchestra (seriously!)
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:53 PM
July 19, 2006RockStar: Supernova Week 3
It's pretty interesting to watch this show each week - some singers treat their performances like karaoke, while others perform covers and try to change up the original.
It's also entertaining to see the judge reactions. One minute Dave Navarro is sleeping and the next Tommy Lee is up in his chair singing along (or just hitting on the female contestants).
Anyway, without further ado, here are my thoughts on this week's performances:
Patrice Pike - She fought hard for "Helter Skelter" but didn't have the power for the song. It definitely didn't blow me away. She has a good energy and stage presence, but needs more work vocally.
Josh Logan - He sang Nirvana's "Come As You Are" and surprised me that he even mumbles on slow songs. His vocals simply don't fit with the band. It's only a matter of time before "Mr. Maroon 5" is gone.
Storm Large - She went for the Dilana "stand still and stare" method of singing, but it didn't work. She needed a little more activity. Her performances always look scripted. Of course, Tommy hit on her asking to see "more of you."
Lukas Rossi - His arrogance works. He doesn't have the best voice, but he's a natural frontman. He tore up "Let's Spend the Night Together." He's got the attitude to front the band. There's still a long way to go, though...
Jill Gioia - She sang "All Right Now" and it was alright. She's got a good rock vocal, but doesn't have the metal edge. I thought it was her best performance so far.
Ryan Star - He sang "Fortunate Son," did it well, but he never looks comfortable on stage. His vocals were solid, but he has nearly no stage presence at all.
Phil Ritchie - The "Bobblehead" was out for "White Rabbit." Jason Newstead joined him on stage, but Phil's waggling head completely distracted me. He has no edge or power to his vocal. It was his best week so far, but that's really not saying much.
Dana Andrews - She sang "It's My Life" and I wonder how long it will take before she's gone. She has a great vocal, but not for this competition. She simply doesn't fit the band, and unless she finds an edge soon, she'll be gone.
Toby Rand - He still looks like he's holding back a little. He could have brought more of an edge to "Runaway Train," but it was just kinda boring. His vocals aren't bad, but he needs to let go and "rip it."
Magni - His vocals are slowly getting better. He still has a great stage presence, but I didn't like the Bono glasses.
Zayra Alvarez - I thought she was pretty horrible once again, but the band loved her version of "Everybody Hurts." Her vocals were off key. It was the perfect song to change up and make into something heavier, but she didn't do it.
Jenny Galt - It was too much folk, or like Gilby Clarke said, "Lilith Fair instead of Ozzfest." She needs more of a rock edge.
Dilana - She sang "Zombie" and stuck to her same old formula - stare at the camera and then freak out when the music picks up. I want to see her do something different. She has an edge in her vocals and has great stage presence, but she needs to stop doing the same act - it would be glaring if she performed two songs back to back. Her vibrato didn't work for me either.
It's only a matter of time for: Josh, Dana, Phil, Zayra and Jenny.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 9:21 AM
July 18, 2006Pickler signs deal
American Idol finalist Kellie Pickler has signed a record deal with 19 Recordings and BNA Records, an imprint of Sony BMG Nashville.
The first single from the singer is expected on country radio in September.
So much for a sitcom deal, huh?
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:23 AM
July 17, 2006This week's new releases (7/18)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Alien Ant Farm "Up in the Attic" - They hit it big with their cover of Micheal Jackson's "Smooth Criminal" and then somewhat disappeared. Review coming soon.
Black Stone Cherry "Black Stone Cherry" - It's a mix of hard rock and Southern rock, and is picking up solid reviews as the days go on. Review coming soon.
Bullet Boys "Smooth Up In Ya - The Best of" - The "What year is this?" pick of the week.
Feist "Open Season" - Simply a collection of remixes, it makes me ask, "How many different versions of 'Mushaboom' can you put on one album?" According to this album, the answer is four.
Helmet "Monochrome" - They're back. I haven't heard the band in 10 years, but it sounds like they're up to their old tricks. Hard music, clear vocals.
Los Lonely Boys "Sacred" - It's like Santana without all of the guest musicians. The trio of brothers have a lot of talent - expect a handful of hits from the new album.
As always, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week: Alien Ant Farm, Mike V and the Rats, Moondogg, Porcupine Tree,
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:42 AM
July 12, 2006Rockstar: Supernova Week 2
"Rock Star: Supernova" held the second round of performances. Let me just say the house band is pretty downright amazing. Now, on to the singers.
Here are some quick thoughts on last night's songs:
Magni - He doesn't have a lot of power in his vocal, but he's got a lot of stage presence. He did a good job with "My Generation." I thought he improved off of the first week, but he's missing range. His experience on stage shows.
Jenny Galt - It was too much of a ballad to begin, but it picked up. I liked the version she did of "Tainted Love," but it wasn't right for the competition. I'm not crazy about the vibrato in her voice either.
Jill Gioia - OK, dressing in a Courtney Love style was goofy. Her vocal wasn't bad, but she needed to show her own style and personality. She claimed she wasn't trying to be Courtney, but it was a little too hard to believe. Did "Violet" well though.
Zayra Alvarez - Interesting version of "You Really Got Me." It didn't really showcase her vocals though and she doesn't have much range in her voice. It was all performance. And never tell the band you're auditioning for that you're not familiar with their music. That was awful. She wrote her ticket out of there the first time she's in the bottom three.
Chris Pierson - "Take Me Out" is not a good rock song. To give it more of an edge, he needed to try a different arrangement. He also needs to lose the eyeliner. He's got a big hill to climb after last week and this didn't help.
Dilana - She sang a different arrangement of "Ring of Fire" and it worked. However, while her performances and stage presence are great, I really haven't heard her vocals. She simply stares at the camera and whispers.
Josh Logan - The mumbler sang Creed's "Arms Wide Open." I can't understand half of what he says - I could say the same of Scott Stapp though. This guy belongs in front of Maroon 5. I thought it was simply bad. He also did a "run" at the end which was horrible. It's Rock Star not Pop Star.
Phil Ritchie - His head bounced around like a bobblehead doll when he was singing. "If You Could Only See" isn't the best song, especially when he was mumbling. His vocal was pretty weak and he didn't have much stage presence.
Storm Large - She had stage presence, but she sounded kind of like Cher while singing "Surrender." It was high energy, but not great. It looked too much like an act instead of who she is.
Patrice Pike - Used her guitar during the chorus, but I'm not too sure why. Unless it's a solo acoustic, or something really impressive, I don't think a guitar is necessary. It didn't add anything. Her vocal didn't have the edge for Nirvana, but she has a good voice.
Lukas Rossi - He sang Coldplay's "Don't Panic" which wasn't the ideal song, but he gave it an edge that worked. He showed a softer side, and while his vocals aren't perfect, he's got the look and presence to be the front runner at this point.
Ryan Star - Sang "Jumpin' Jack Flash," and his voice sounded shaky again. He did ok trying to bring an edge to the song, but he didn't have the energy. It wasn't great, vocally.
Dana Andrews - Sang "Born To Be Wild" with a good vocal, but didn't have a rock edge. Her voice has power and range, she looks comfortable on stage, but she doesn't look comfortable in the genre.
Toby Rand - Sang "Somebody Told Me" - another bad song. It sounded like he was holding back a little. He tried to bring an edge to it, but the arrangement didn't work for an edgy sound. It wasn't bad though. I see him getting stronger as the weeks go on.
At the bottom: Zayra should go for not knowing the bandmates she'd be playing with. Other bottom-dwellers were Chris, Josh, Phil and Jill.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:00 AM
July 11, 2006Wish You Were Here
Pink Floyd founder Syd Barrett has died at the age of 60.
Barrett left the band in 1968, and was replaced by David Gilmour.
Rest in peace, Syd.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 1:19 PM
July 10, 2006This week's new releases (7/11)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Bizzy Bone "The Midwest Cowboy" - I remember Bone Thugz N Harmony... Whatever happened to them? Apparently, they're all making solo albums that quickly fall off the radar soon after being released.
Jamie Kennedy & Stu Stone "Blowin' Up" - I've seen the MTV show, and wasn't impressed. Kennedy acts like he wants to be a serious rapper, but I have to assume it's all a joke, because he's horrible. Maybe this is an attempt to make up for "Son of the Mask," but that wasn't funny either.
Anna Nalick "Wreck of the Day (Extended)" - Her concert at Ziggy's on Friday was really good, but that doesn't mean I'm going to rush out and pick up this album for just three new songs - and demos at that. I'll never understand why artists do this - it only hurts their true fans.
Phish "Live in Brooklyn" - They're not together any more, but I'm sure they could release live albums for decades to come.
Pink Floyd "Pulse" (DVD) - My fingers are still crossed for a reunion, but until that happens, you can just watch this DVD over and over. It contains a live performance of the complete "Dark Side of the Moon" album.
Soul Asylum "The Silver Lining" - I remember the video they did that was tied to "Clerks." So, it's kinda funny that their new album comes out as "Clerks 2" is about to be released.
Thom Yorke "The Eraser" - The Radiohead frontman releases a solo album. He's a creep. He's a winner.
The bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week: Caribou, Cattle Decapitation, Phish, Sabertooth Tiger, Typical Cats, Wolverine
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:07 AM
July 8, 2006Concert Review: Anna Nalick
Anna Nalick
July 7, 2006
Ziggy's
Winston-Salem, N.C.
Having heard Anna Nalick's debut album, "Wreck of the Day," I expected to hear a good singer perform at her concert at Ziggy's on Friday, July 7.
I'll admit, part of me showed up because I had a small glimmer of hope that Brad Smith and Christopher Thorn would be part of her touring band.
Smith and Thorn, who performed on the album and produced it, are two of the founding members of Blind Melon.
When Nalick and her band hit the stage, I was slightly disappointed that Smith and Thorn were not present, but that disappointment was short lived once the band got going.
Nalick's vocals were much stronger and impressive live - as opposed to the album - and the band filled big shoes bravely.
To put it simply, I was impressed.
Having only one album out, Nalick sang all 11 songs from it plus one other unidentified acoustic song at the beginning of the encore.
Nalick played guitar herself for the title track from the CD and kept the crowd entertained during her hour-long set with a few random stories.
Judging by other reviews posted online, she's making it a habit to bash Paris Hilton and Brooke Hogan, saying they should be making music.
She also shared a story of a "smelly shirt" that was given to her by Marilyn Manson's former tour bus driver.
She told the crowd that she wouldn't lie if she were ever on MTV's "Cribs," and would say her jewelry was made special by Target, and her "mom's house is beautiful."
Her humor kept the crowd entertained between heart-felt songs.
She even mocked her own album covers by re-imagining the poses on them.
Nalick's humor didn't overshadow her talent. It's surprising that she's only had one single on the radio since the album's release more than a year ago, but the talented songstress has a bright future ahead.
Setlist
Paper Bag
Citadel
Forever Love
In My Head
Catalyst
Consider This
Wreck of the Day
In the Rough
Breathe
Bleed
Encore
Unknown
Satellite
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 12:03 AM
July 6, 2006Rock Star: Supernova Week 1
"Rock Star: Supernova" kicked off last night with the first round of performances. It's always interesting to see how the singers develop from week to week and get over some of those first-week jitters.
Here are some quick thoughts on last night's songs:
Storm Large - Storm kicked off the night with The Who's "Pinball Wizard." She didn't have a lot of range in her voice, and I thought she sounded a bit like Melissa Etheridge. She had a good stage presence though.
Ryan Star - Ryan sang The Goo Goo Dolls' "Iris" - an interesting choice for a rock band with Tommy Lee. He played guitar, which was good, but kept looking at his hands for chord changes. It was a little distracting. His voice started out shaky, but sounded better in the chorus. I couldn't tell if it was vibrato or nerves. He just didn't look comfortable on stage.
Toby Rand - The Aussie sang "Knockin' On Heaven's Door." He has some nice power behind his voice. I liked the acoustic take on the song to help showcase his vocals. He had a good stage presence and tweaked the song for his own style.
Patrice Pike - Sang "Somebody to Love" and though it matched her voice well, she didn't have that strong rock vocal or raw quality. She had a good stage presence though.
Magni - The Icelandic singer chose the Rolling Stones' "Satisfaction." He had a good stage presence, and tried to get the crowd involved. He's got a good raw edge to his vocal, but was a little cheesy. He needs to lean more toward rock instead of pop.
Zayra Alvarez - She sang Evanescence's "Bring Me To Life." A good song for her, as it fit her voice well. She didn't have a great stage presence and lost her tone at times. She didn't look comfortable as a front person.
Jenny Galt - She sang "How You Remind Me" by Nickelback. There wasn't much power in her vocal and she also sounded a bit shaky. It was nice that she played guitar while singing, but the vibrato wasn't working for me. Had a good stage presence though.
Josh Logan - Josh went with "She Talks to Angels" by the Black Crowes. My biggest problem - he changed the words. Instead of singing, "She talks to angels," he would sing "she talks to the angels" - a minor difference, but completely bothered me. He had a good soulful voice and looked very comfortable on stage. He kind of mumbled at times, but changing words was horrible.
Matt Hoffer - He sang "Yellow" and I'll be honest and say I wasn't familiar with the song, and didn't particularly like it. I thought his vocals were just ok and the performance was weak overall.
Dilana - Her deep vocal was unexpected for Nirvana's "Lithium." She started out the song just standing in one place, not moving, and it kinda creeped me out. She burst into a high-energy mode half-way through and showed her stage presence. Not bad, but kinda odd.
Dana Andrews - The Southern Belle sang "I'm the Only One" - a good choice for her vocal power, but not for a rock band. She had good power, but it threw me off that she looked rock and sang country.
Phil Ritchie - Phil sang "Cult of Personality." I didn't have the rocker edge to pull the song off. Maybe he just looked to "emo." He also screwed up the words at the end of the song and looked like he didn't have much confidence.
Jill Gioia - Sang Janis Joplin's "Piece of My Heart." She had good vocal power and tone for a Janis song. She showed a lot of confidence, but it's hard to picture her with the band. She also was oversinging a little.
Chris Pierson - Sang his own version of "Roxanne" and it was nearly painful. Weak vocals and the fact he didn't look comfortable on stage only hurt it more. I give him points for trying to do something different, but it didn't work at all.
Lukas Rossi - Sang Billy Idol's "Rebel Yell." This guy looks like a rock star. His vocals weren't the greatest, but his stage presence and confidence made up for it. He acted like Scott Wieland and leans a little more towards the punk side. I'd say he's the front runner after week one.
Bottom three: I'd say Chris Pierson is gone, but with him at the bottom are Phil Ritchie and Matt Hoffer.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 11:09 AM | Comments (1)
July 5, 2006Van Halen gone bluegrass
Apparently, after David Lee Roth was fired from his gig of hosting a morning radio show, he lost his marbles completely.
If Roth ever had a prayer that he would one day be the frontman of Van Halen, I'm sure this video will go a long way in ensuring that never happens.
That's right...it's time for Van Halen to go bluegrass.
The music is from the album, "Strummin' with the Devil: The Southern Side of Van Halen," in which bluegrass bands offer their take on Van Halen songs.
Roth sings on two songs on the album...
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 3:28 PM
Supernova begins
Tonight on CBS from 8 to 9:30 is the premiere of Rock Star: Supernova.
If you remember, last year it was Rock Star: INXS.
This year, Tommy Lee, Gilby Clark and Jason Newstead are on the hunt for a singer for thier new band, Supernova.
If you click this link, you can see the first episode. It shows the band jamming with the singers, the guests moving into their house, and picking their songs for tonight's show.
Each week, some episodes will be put online, while the performance shows will air on CBS.
Last year, the back episodes were put on VH1.
So far, the band sounds good. I'm interested to see where it goes.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:04 AM
July 3, 2006This week's new releases (7/4)
Here's a look at some of this week's new releases:
Johnny Cash "American V: A Hundred Highways" - The final recording from the Man in Black, recorded shortly before his death.
As always, the bands with animal-related names releasing albums this week: Adani & Wolf, Alice Peacock
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 10:16 AM
July 2, 2006CD Review: Live "Songs from Black Mountain"
Release date: June 6, 2006
12 tracks, 42:29
The album starts off with two upbeat songs - "The River" and "Mystery" that fit in well with past efforts by the band.
"Mystery" is also the song that was featured on the "American Idol" finale - Chris Daughtry sang with the band.
"Get Ready" sounds a little too sappy in the lyrics - "The future is now, the past is gone forever, we belong together..."
It picks back up with "Show" - another song in the same vein as the openers.
That's not to say that some of the slower songs, such as "Wings," aren't bad. I just felt like "Get Ready" didn't fit in well with the rest of the songs.
Longtime fans of the band will be happy with the band's seventh studio album, because it doesn't stray far from previous efforts in sound.
I wouldn't say the album is one of their best, but I do feel like it's a solid effort and would be near the top of the list.
It's difficult to belive the band has been together for nearly 20 years, but in age are still only in their 30s.
I remember seeing the band in concert right after their first album was released.
They performed a high-energy set for two-and-a-half hours. I don't believe I've seen them live since then, but judging by the majority of their new album, they haven't lost their sound, energy or spirit.
Posted by jeffhahnedisabled at 6:04 PM
