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Extreme “Six” Album Review
The band Extreme are back with their first album since 2009.
It was worth the wait.
Musically, it’s very varied. Lots of rock, funky songs, some acoustic songs, ballads, it’s an awesome hodgepodge of music, but yet focused.
The band is still the original lineup (Singer Gary Cherone, Guitarist/Singer Nuno Bettencourt, and Bassist Pat Badger) except for the drummer (Kevin Figueiredo, who has been there since 2009).
This is definitely one of my favorite albums released so far this year.
If you’re a fan, check it out.
And even if you’re not, check it out anyway. You may be pleasantly surprised.
Well done guys!!
I hope to see you someday.
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Greta Van Fleet “Starcatcher” Album Review
I first discovered Greta Van Fleet when they released their first EP From The Fires in 2017.
At first, I thought their songs sounded like lost Led Zeppelin songs, which is not a bad thing. In fact, they still get compared to Zeppelin all the time.
However, once I bought all their music, I discovered they are very much a band that could have time traveled from the 70s into the present or vice versa, which again, is not a bad thing.
They are not a Zeppelin clone or anyone’s clone. They are just a young band with a retro sound, but again, that’s not a bad thing. I love it.
And their latest album, Starcatcher, is a natural follow up to all their previously released albums.
They have remained consistent but yet are still growing.
All the band members are brothers, except for one member, and they’ve known him forever.
This band is still young, but I can tell you that their music is very big sounding.
They are a phenomenal live band. They have a big rock show and their fans are sooooo into them. They know every word to every song and in my mind, aside from Foo Fighters, they are the biggest rock band in the world right now.
Us rock fans need more bands like Greta Van Fleet.
And I think we have several great ones out there now (The Struts, Dirty Honey, Mammoth WVH, Rival Sons, Lost Hearts, Classless Act, just to name a few).
I have not been this hopeful about the future of rock maybe ever. But I am now.
So rock on Greta Van Fleet and keep doing what you’re doing.
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Dirty Honey “EP/LP” Review
I had heard of the band Dirty Honey for awhile, but had not heard much of their music.
I recently bought their self-titled EP and self-titled debut full length album and I must say I really like them a lot!!
Singer Marc Labelle, Guitarist John Notto, Bassist Justin Smolian, and Drummer Corey Coverstone are everything I want in a rock band.
Just straight up, no frills, loud, great singing and playing.
They are the real deal.
I’m excited for their next album, Can’t Find The Brakes, which is out November 3, and I’ll be seeing them December 11 in Columbus, OH.
If you’re a fan of basic hard rock bands, this is the band for you.
Seek out their music and go see them.
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Mammoth WVH “Mammoth II” Album Review
Multi-Instrumentalist Wolfgang Van Halen (Bassist of the band Van Halen) has released his second Mammoth WVH solo album, called Mammoth II.
His first solo album, Mammoth WVH, was my favorite album of the year for 2021.
This album I think is the natural follow up.
Aside from one guitar solo, Wolfgang plays, sings, and writes everything, like he does on his first solo album.
He is such a phenomenal talent.
Yes he’s a great musician, but he is a phenomenal singer/songwriter.
He is one of the best newer artists out there today and I believe he has a great future ahead of him.
Keep on rocking sir!!
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The Seven Decades Tour: Jethro Tull Concert Review
- Date of Concert: August 20, 2023
- Location of Concert: The Rose Music Center at The Heights in Huber Heights, OH
I’ve seen many concerts (I don’t know how many) in the last 25 years.
I’ve seen most of my favorites. However, there are still a few I have not seen.
And Sunday night of August 20, 2023, this was another first for me.
I finally saw Jethro Tull.
Ian Anderson (Lead singer/Flute player/main songwriter/leader) is still putting out new albums (RokFlote came out earlier this year and I must say I really like it.), and his band are just so great.
Some don’t like the band anymore because Ian’s vocal range is not what it used to be. But I still think he sounds good and he’s found a range he’s comfortable with. So I don’t have a problem with it. He’s still giving it his all and seems to be having fun. He’s a great performer.
Lots of fun visuals, some good stories (Ian mentioned The Eagles’ song Hotel California as having some of the same chord changes in his song We Used To Know he wrote earlier than they did their song. It was all in good fun, but I saw what he meant when I heard the solo. Definitely similar. Also, during We Used To Know, the font of the song title on the screen video looked like the Hotel California font. Pretty funny.), and basically, everything I love about music and concerts in general.
He and the band delivered.
If you’re a fan, I recommend going to the show.
No openers, and two sets.
Not that I meant to keep track but Set 1 started at 7:30 PM and ended at 8:20 PM. They had a 20 minute intermission and then came back on from 8:40 PM to 9:34 PM.
Very fun night.
Keep on rocking Ian and the guys in Jethro Tull!!
Jethro Tull Band Members:
- Ian Anderson (Lead Vocals/Flute)-He also plays Guitar, Bouzouki, Mandolin, Harmonica, and writes most of the songs.
- Joe Parrish (Guitar)
- David Goodier (Bass/Double Bass)
- John O'Hara (Orchestral Conductor/Piano/Keyboards/Accordian)
- Scott Hammond (Drums/Percussion)
Set Lists-Set 1:
- Nothing Is Easy
- We Used To Know
- Heavy Horses
- Sweet Dream
- Hunt By Numbers
- Holly Herald
- Hammer on Hammer
- Mine is the Mountain
- Bourree in E Minor (Johann Sebastian Bach Cover)
Set 2:
- Farm on the Freeway
- The Navigators
- Pavane in F-Sharp Minor (Gabriel Faure Cover)
- The Zealot Gene
- Dark Ages
- Aqualung
- Encore: Locomotive Breath
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Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
