Month: April 2016

Gotthard / Steve Lee – Artist Profile

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Gotthard is a rock band out of Switzerland and sadly never got much, if any, airplay here in the states. This is another band I was introduced to thanks to the website Melodicrock.com.  I don’t think I would have ever heard of them otherwise, and I would have missed out on a great band.

The band was started back in the early 90’s and they have gone on to be one of the top selling bands in Switzerland. I believe at one time, the top selling was a little known band named Krokus.  Who doesn’t love Krokus.

Gotthard Lee 2010

The moving force behind Gotthard was the lead singer Steve Lee.  He had such an amazing voice and he could rock out or sing a heartfelt ballad.  He had a little raspiness in his voice and his vocals brought so much passion and life to these songs it gave you an instant connection to them.

Sadly, in October 2010, Steve Lee was killed in a freak accident when he was on a motorcycle tour in the U.S.  I still remember when I heard the news and I can say I was truly upset.  I spent the next few days listening to their albums non-stop.

The band has gone on to replace Steve with a new lead singer, but it is not the same.  The band I am writing about here is specifically the era of Steve Lee.

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Friday New Releases – April 29th

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It is Friday again and not a moment too soon.  Today’s new releases are just what this metal head has been waiting for and I have a feeling these will be on heavy rotation over the next week.

Sixx A.M. – Prayers for the Damned (Eleven Seven Music)

When Nikki Sixx put together Sixx A.M. for the Heroin Diaries, I thought it was going to be a one-off project.  Gladly that was not the case.  This album is their fourth one and since all three previous albums have been exceptional, I am hoping that streak continues.

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#TBT – Queensryche – Operation: Mindcrime

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The year was 1988.  I was too impatient to wait for Def Leppard to come to Atlanta, so my friend Steve and I drove to Chattanooga, TN to see them in concert.  The opening act for this tour I was not familiar with at all.  A band called Queensryche.

Needless to say, I was blown away by their show.  The songs I loved the most were from an album called Operation: Mindcrime.  I bought the CD and it has become one of all my ALL-TIME FAVORITE albums.  I know I say this or that is one of my favorites, but this would be in my Top 10 list of Favorite Albums.

The album came out at the end of the Reagan era and epitomizes the disdain for government and all the political corruption at the time.  The sad thing is this album could be  about our current times as well.  Which means this album has held up over time and is just as good now as then.

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Jordan Feliz – The River – Album Review – 100%

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I really didn’t think I would give another 100% on a review so soon after my last one, but here it is.  As I mentioned in an earlier piece, I discovered Jordan Feliz by his album cover.  Every now and then, I will listen to an artist based on their album cover, band name or even album name.  What a pleasant surprise he was.

The album I clicked on was “Beloved” which contained 4 songs that are on “The River”. Immediately in listening to the album, I was already a fan based on those 4 songs.  Now, came the moment of truth if I would like the other songs.  The verdict is in and I am a fan of the entire album.

Jordan is labeled a Christian singer as his songs are inspirational and deliver a positive & powerful message.  However, the talent in his songwriting skills and the production value of the songs both lend to music that could be played on mainstream pop/rock radio.

Jordan Feliz started out in a heavy metal band called A Current Affair but changed gears when he became a worship leader.  He eventually moved to Nashville to pursue a solo career and here we are with “The River”.

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Thriving Ivory / Midnight Cinema – Artist Profile

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I guess you are getting a two-for-one artist profile.  As I am doing a profile on Thriving Ivory & Midnight Cinema.  No, they are not the same band even though they have most of the same bandmates.  The difference is explained below.  They are both great Pop/Rock bands and that voice of Clayton Stroupe is amazing.

Thriving Ivory

Thriving Ivory was based out of California and consisted of  Clayton Stroope, Drew Cribley, and Paul Niedermier.  Clayton’s voice is very unique. I believe it is one of those you either love it, or hate it.  Me, I love it. It gives them their own unique sound and different is always good.

The band’s first album, Thriving Ivory, came out in 2008 and contained their biggest hit “Angels on the Moon”.  I fell in love with this song the first time I heard it.  iTunes was offering the video for free one week and that was how I came across the song.  The song went on to go Gold selling over 500,000 singles.

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Drinking Booze – Playlist

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I will be honest, I am not a big drinker.  Doesn’t mean I won’t drink.  I choose not too most of the time as I never got a taste for it; however, Mondays make me want to drink.  Since I do love alcohol related songs, I figured this Monday needs a playlist of booze drinking songs.  There are so many which makes it hard to choose the best ones.

Here is my list of booze related songs that will hopefully help me make it through Monday.

Emphatic – “Put Down the Drink” from the album Damage

Hellyeah – “Alcohaulin’ Ass” from the album Hellyeah

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Tori Kelly – Concert Review

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On Thursday, April 21st, I took my daughter to see her favorite singer, Tori Kelly.  I wasn’t real excited about going as I didn’t know much about her.  I have heard some songs on the radio but that was about it.

However, I love my daughter and want her to experience music the way I have all my life. So being the great father I am (cough, cough), I sucked it up and went.  The thing I was dreading the most was the 5 hours of standing.  Why standing??  Tori Kelly performed at the Fillmore in Charlotte, NC.

FullSizeRender-2 (1)The Fillmore is a standing room only facility and first come first serve on where you can stand.  The concert started at 8pm and the doors opened at 7pm.  This means you have to get there early to get in line for when the doors open at 7pm.

We actually didn’t arrive until about 6:15-6:20 and there were already 2 very long lines. One line was longer than the other, so we chose the shortest line, naturally.  As we were standing in the shorter line, some nice, very loud, lady screams that the line we are in is for Fast Pass and VIP’s only.  Well, we were neither of those.

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The Defiants – The Defiants – Album Review – 82%

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Paul Laine, Rob Marcello and Bruno Ravel all make up the new band The Defiants.  If those names sound familiar to you than you are obviously a fan of Danger Danger as all three were once a part of that great band.

Frontiers Music SRI brought these 3 back together again to bring us a rock masterpiece.  Okay, I am being a little overly dramatic.  But it is really, really great! If you were a fan of  Danger Danger or just a fan of Paul Laine’s vocals, be prepared for some of his best vocal performances.  The band has such a cohesive sound and this is the album that Danger Danger should have made years ago.

As much as I enjoyed Ted Poley as the lead singer of Danger Danger, when he left and Paul Laine took over vocals, the band’s dynamic changed and I feel for the better.  Years later when Ted Poley reunited with Danger Danger and Paul was no longer a member, I yearned for more music from his version of the band.  Now I have it.

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Friday New Releases – April 22nd

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Friday is my favorite day of the week for many reasons.  One – it is the last day of the work week, obviously.  Two, it is the day new releases come out and I always get excited to get new music.

This week there are 4 releases that I am excited about:

61NI6pypL1L._AA160_  Jordan Feliz – The River

I haven’t been this excited about a release in a long time.  From what I have heard so far, he is nothing short of amazing.  I have high hopes and don’t think I will be disappointed.  I have posted this one before, but worth another listen.

 

phil wickham  Phil Wickham – Children of God

He is one of the shining spots in Christian Music.  His albums are consistently good and he always has a few gems on each of his releases.  Based of the song below, I am sure there will be more gems on this release as well.

 

candlebox  Candlebox – Disappearing in Airports

I have enjoyed them for years and glad to have some new music.  Like this song on the video below for “Vexatious”.  Looking forward to the album.

 

texashippiedarksidecd  Texas Hippie Coalition – Dark Side of Black

I don’t know what it is about these guys, maybe it is just the straight-up, in your face, rock & roll, but I can’t get enough of them.

What new releases are you excited about today?