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Jasta …And Jasta For All Album Review
Jamey Jasta of Hatebreed has released another great solo album.
This time, he put out a Thrash Metal album called …And Jasta For All.
The album title and artwork is a take off/tribute to Metallica’s …And Justice For All album.
This album is HAAAARRRRD, as Jamey likes to say.
Charlie and Nick Bellmore play guitar and drums, respectively, and Joey Concepcion plays some guitar on it too. It also features a few Thrash Metal legends guesting, such as Scott Ian of Anthrax/S.O.D./Mr. Bungle/Pearl/The Damned Things, Steve “Zetro” Souza of Exodus, Chuck Billy of Testament, and Phil Demmel of VIO-LENCE, Machine Head, and Kerry King of Slayer’s band.
If you are a fan of Thrash Metal, you will love this.
Thanks Jamey for making another great album and for signing it.
It was released May 17, but I actually received it weeks before official release because it was shipped very quickly.
Again thanks Jamey. You rock!!!
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Miles The Autobiography by Miles Davis with Quincy Troupe Book Review
I have been a Miles Davis fan since I was a teenager.
My brother got me into his music.
Miles Davis (1926-1991) is one of the biggest contributors to Jazz music and just music in general.
His trumpet playing influenced so many and his music is timeless.
He had a great ear for music and for talent.
He worked with a lot of great musicians, some of whom were Charlie “Bird” Parker, Dizzy Gillespie, John Coltrane, Herbie Hancock, and soooooo many more.
His body of work is phenomenal.
Such classic albums such as ‘Round About Midnight, Kind Of Blue, Bitches Brew, and a TON of others.
This book, released in 1989, is about his life, told by him in his words.
No filter. It’s all there.
He was one of a kind and there will never be another like him.
Seek out this book and his great music.
You won’t regret it.
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Gone Are The Days Movie Review
Gone Are The Days was released in 2017.
It stars Lance Henriksen, Tom Berenger, Billy Lush, Meg Steedle, Steve Railsback, and Danny Trejo.
Henriksen plays Taylon, an outlaw who is near the end of his life.
He wants to rob one more bank before he dies so he can give his daughter (Steedle), who does not even know he is her Dad, the money and the money he already has in savings so she can live a good life.
What he does not realize is that she is a prostitute who is being pimped out by Railsback’s character, and so Henriksen needs to get her away from him too.
Berenger plays a sheriff and former Texas Ranger, who has history with Henriksen’s character.
This is definitely a western, but it is really more a character story of someone (Henriksen) at the end of their life.
You watch the movie and wonder what is real and what is perhaps a dream because Henriksen’s character is so far gone.
I found the movie a bit weird because of this, but nevertheless, I really enjoyed it.
I’m a big Lance Henriksen and Tom Berenger fan, as well as Danny Trejo (who has a small but important role in this).
Don’t expect this to be a straight ahead western because it isn’t.
But it is a good movie and I think everyone did a very good job with it.
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Scream Queen: My Nightmare On Elm Street Review
Scream Queen: My Nightmare On Elm Street is a documentary about actor Mark Patton, who is most known as the star of Nightmare On Elm Street 2: Freddy’s Revenge.
Yes this documentary talks about Mark’s experience working on that movie (one of my favorite horror movies), but this documentary is really his life story.
He talks about his upbringing, about figuring out his sexuality, getting into acting and why he left acting (really off the grid period for many years), and about just surviving all the obstacles that have come his way.
This documentary also shows him going on the road for conventions/fan expos/Comic Cons meeting fans and reuniting with some of his Nightmare On Elm Street 2 cast and crew. And trying to find some peace with the writer of the movie, who he had major issues with.
Mark has really lived, nearly died, and is still going strong.
His story is extremely compelling and inspiring.
You may even cry a little because there is some heavy stuff in this. But it is stuff you should know about. Not just about him, but about humanity in general. Both good and bad.
I want to wish Mark all the best in the world.
This is a PHENOMENAL documentary.
I HIGHLY recommend seeking out this documentary.
You do not have to be a horror fan or Nightmare On Elm Street fan to watch or enjoy this.
This is a human story. And one I think everyone should see.
Thank you Mark for this.
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Blue Oyster Cult Ghost Stories Album Review
Rock legends Blue Oyster Cult released their 16th studio album, Ghost Stories, on April 12 of 2024.
This album consists of songs that were recorded between 1978-1983 and one in 2016, but were never released or not completely done at the time.
Some parts were added, but the parts that were recorded at the time were not changed, but just spruced up, if you will.
This album is very good. Sounds like classic BOC.
Classic members Eric Bloom (Vocals/Guitar/Keyboards) and Donald “Buck Dharma” Roeser (Vocals/Guitar) are still going strong.
If you are a fan, or have not checked them out and want to, I recommend this one and all their huge discography.
Rock out!!
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Saxon Hell, Fire And Damnation Album Review
New Wave of British Heavy Metal (NWOBHM) legends Saxon released their 26th (counting two cover albums) studio album Hell, Fire And Damnation on January 19 of 2024.
Saxon, consisting of singer Biff Byford, guitarists Doug Scarratt and Brian Tatler (Brian replacing long time guitarist Paul Quinn, who also plays on two songs on this album), bassist Nibbs Carter, and drummer Nigel Glockler, have been quite consistent over the decades with album releases and tours.
They put out an album every few years and most of them, I think, are very good.
They have their style of hard driving, hard rocking, heavy songs, but also incorporate melody and anthemic lyrics.
This album sounds modern and fresh, but also like classic Saxon to me.
Lots of great rocking, heavy riffs with Biff’s great vocals, but also some really good melody too. In fact, more melody than I remember from most recent Saxon albums.
This band is really good on album and really good in concert.
I’m seeing them for the 3rd time, May 17, in Cincinnati, OH, co-headlining with the legendary band Uriah Heep, and I cannot wait.
Keep on rocking Saxon!!!!!
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The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx By Nikki Sixx Book Review
I’m a huge Motley Crue fan, but I was late reading Motley bassist/songwriter/founder Nikki Sixx’s most recent book.
The First 21: How I Became Nikki Sixx, was released in 2021, and as the title suggests, covers Nikki’s first 21 years of life leading up to the formation of Motley Crue.
The book actually starts more in the present about Motley getting back together (a few years after their “Final Tour”) to do a stadium tour.
Once Nikki talks about that, he goes back in time to the early years of his family, him being born, and a lot of things that happened in his first 21 years of life.
This is not a long read, but it is a fantastic read.
I highly enjoyed this book.
Yes I’m a fan, but I would have loved it anyways because I am such a music fan and a fan of autobiographies.
Autobiographies are my favorite type of book and even though Nikki has put out other books (The Dirt, The Heroin Diaries, This Is Gonna Hurt) he still has a lot to say, and he went into much more detail about his early years in this book.
Again, not a long read, but such a great book, though.
Check it out.
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Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles (1974-2001) by Don Felder With Wendy Holden Book Review
I was super late to this, but I finally read Don Felder (ex lead guitarist of The Eagles) book earlier this year.
This book, called Heaven And Hell: My Life In The Eagles (1974-2001), was released in the late 2000s.
Don collaborated with author Wendy Holden on this book.
As the title suggests, this book chronicles Don’s time in the hugely successful band The Eagles. It also talks about his life leading up to being in the band and afterwards.
In short, it’s Don’s autobiography, and if you are a fan, I highly recommend reading this book.
Lots of stories. Lots of details.
As a side note, I also highly recommend seeing Don in concert. You will not be disappointed.
Don is an extremely talented guitar player and actually is a very good singer too.
He sings/plays The Eagles songs in concert and does a great job. He also has a few really good solo albums too. Check them out.
And check out this book.
Even if you are not a fan of The Eagles but just are a fan of music and bands in general, then this is quite the book to read about music and the music business.
Very good read.
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Donnie Iris & The Cruisers/The Vindys Concert Review
- Date of Concert: April 6, 2024
- Location of Concert: The Bluestone in Columbus, OH
My girlfriend Mariah and I went to see Donnie Iris & The Cruisers, at The Bluestone in Columbus, OH Saturday of April 6.
Opening the show was a band called The Vindys, from Youngstown, OH.
Such a great band. Everyone kicked serious butt.
The singer, Jackie Popovec, is PHENOMENAL. She can sing anything and it will sound great.
The band, along with Popevec, includes guitarists John Anthony and Rick Deak, bassist Brendan Burke, drummer Owen Davis, keyboardist Nathan Anthony, trumpet player Kyle O’Donnell, saxophone player Garrett Kuchmaner, and trombone player Brian Mayle.
They have been around for 10 years and I must say I am very impressed with this band.
They played a mix of originals and covers, including a great version of the Black Sabbath classic “War Pigs”.
Great stuff.
OK to the headliner: Donnie Iris & The Cruisers.
Admittedly, I was initially going to this show because my girlfriend really likes this band and wanted me to go too. I was fine with going, but I was not super familiar with their music, I’m sad to say. But I did my homework and listened to some of their albums and now I love them. So then I was more excited and now I’m glad I went.
Donnie Iris is 81 years old, just got over cancer (on stage he called this the “Fuck cancer tour”), and he has more energy than I may ever have.
He really gets into it. Occasionally he sat on a stool, but I don’t blame him because the energy he was giving was a lot.
And vocally, he is as great as he was over 40 years ago. He gives it his all on stage.
Before The Cruisers, he was in Wild Cherry, who had the big hit “Play That Funky Music”. He was also in a band called The Jaggerz, who had a hit with the song “The Rapper”.
The Cruisers played both of these songs at this show, but mostly, it was their songs they played. Such a great set of songs, including their hits “Ah! Leah!” and “Love Is Like A Rock”.
The band, with Donnie on vocals and some guitar, includes multi-instrumentalist Mark Avsec (who was also in Wild Cherry with Donnie), lead guitarist Marty Lee Hoenes, bassist Paul Goll, and drummer Kevin Valentine.
Being the KISS fan I am, I know of Kevin’s drumming on their album Psycho Circus (he played drums on all songs but 1 on the album) and Revenge (he played drums on one song on that album).
Great great band fronted by an amazing singer/frontman.
Stay cancer free Donnie!!!!! And keep on rocking!!!!!!!
Donnie Iris & The Cruisers Set List:
- Agnes
- That’s The Way Love Ought To Be
- Do You Compute?
- Tough World
- Sweet Merilee
- Pretender
- This Time It Must Be Love/Thank You (Falettinme Be Mice Elf Agin)/Another One Bites The Dust (Queen cover)
- Play That Funky Music (Wild Cherry cover)
- Minnie The Moocher (The Ho De Ho Song)-Cab Calloway cover
- Ridin’ Thunder
- Ei Ei Ei O Polka (Frankie Yankovic cover)
- Love Is Like A Rock
- Ah! Leah!
- The Rapper (The Jaggerz cover)/Hush (Joe South cover, although they covered Deep Purple’s version of it)
- With A Little Help From My Friends (The Beatles cover, although they covered Joe Cocker’s version of it)
The Vindys Set List:
- Intro/Bugs
- Don’t Tell Me Just Love Me
- Save Me
- Misery
- Morning Light
- Bang
- Chasin/War Pigs (Black Sabbath cover)
- If I Want
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Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
