Alright Kiss fans, rejoice! Ace Frehley and Paul Stanley together again. Check out the official video just released today to Ace’s new song, Fire & Water, from his album Origins Vol. 1.
Thriving Ivory / Midnight Cinema – Artist Profile
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
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
Tori Kelly – Concert Review
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.
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.
The Defiants – The Defiants – Album Review – 82%
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
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:
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 – 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 – 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.
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?
#TBT – Def Leppard – Slang
For my first Throwback Thursday, I thought I would go with the most underrated album from my favorite band – Def Leppard’s “Slang”. The album came out in 1996 and the band knew that their signature sound was no longer popular on the radio. They completely took a left turn and changed up their sound.
“Slang” was such a departure that I was stunned when I first heard the album. After the first listen, I wasn’t sure what I had heard. I listened to it again and again. After several listens, I started to get it and I started to really like it. “Work It Out” and the album title song “Slang” were the first songs that were standouts for me.
There were several slower songs that were not the typical Def Leppard ballads – “Breathe A Sigh”, “Where Does Love Go When It Dies” and “Blood Runs Cold”. They were a little darker and very powerful.
Ace Frehley – Origins, Vol. 1
I have never been a huge fan of cover albums. I don’t mind if an artist does a cover that is included on their album, but a whole album of covers…come on!! However, it is Ace Frehley and he can do whatever he wants.
I was such a huge Kiss fan growing up and just loved Ace and hated to see him leave the band. I have enjoyed most everything he has done since he left Kiss and can’t wait for anything new he puts out.
I wanted to give you a taste of the album if you haven’t heard it yet, and if you are an Ace fan, I recommend it. Not all the songs on the album are good, but there are definitely some standouts.
Favorite Christian Songs – Playlist
Over the last 10 years, the quality of Christian Music is a vast improvement over where it had been. There are so many great bands and artists now that wear the Christian Music label.
Many of the songs could be and should be played on mainstream radio, but sadly will not. There are so many different musical styles and Christian Music has them all pop, rock, metal, singer/songwriter, hip-hop, dance and indie.
As I get older, the Christian Music genre gets to be more important in my life and tends to hold more meaning for me. I follow bands out of this genre just as passionately as I do any other type of music. If I like it, I am going to listen to it…it doesn’t matter what style or message the music might be expressing.
Below are my favorite songs by Christian artists:
Sanctus Real – “Lead Me” – This song is so powerful and the lyrics are so moving. I listen to it and I want to be a better man.
James Bay – Tour Dates
Is a parent supposed to like the same artist that their child likes? I am not sure that falls in the natural order of things. However, I think this kid is incredible and my daughter agrees.
He just announced his tour dates for the Fall and you should go check him out. I know we will. His debut album “Chaos and the Calm” is out now on Republic. Two of the great songs on the album are “Let It Go” and “Hold Back the River”. He is an unbelievable talent.

Sept 19th -Hard Rock Live in Orlando, FL
Sept 21st -The Fillmore Miami Beach at Jackie Gleason Theater – Miami Beach, FL
Sept 23rd – Ryman Auditorium in Nashville, TN
Sept 25th – The Fillmore in Charlotte, NC
Sept 28th – State AE in Pittsburgh, PA
Sept 30th – Radio City Music Hall in New York, NY
Oct 1st – Blue Hills Bank Pavillion in Boston, MA
Oct 4th – The Fillmore in Detroit, MI
Oct 7th – The Pageant in St. Louis, MO









