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A Rare Treat: Seeing Rickey Medlocke Sing and Play Blackfoot Songs, as well as some Lynyrd Skynyrd Rarities!!
- Date of Concert: Friday, January 24, 2025
- Location of Concert: Plaza Theatre in Glasgow, KY
- Opener: Peacemaker
Singer/Songwriter/Guitarist Rickey Medlocke (Blackfoot, Lynyrd Skynyrd) has been making music and touring the world for more than 50 years.
His work with Blackfoot is forever classic rock in my opinion!!
He is also a classic member of Lynyrd Skynyrd (he was their drummer for awhile before going back to Blackfoot) and later rejoined Skynyrd as one of their guitarists and has been there ever since, still making great new music with them and touring everywhere.
Lynyrd Skynyrd takes up a lot of Rickey’s time, but in the last few years, Rickey put together his own band, appropriately named The Rickey Medlocke Band, so that he could occasionally do shows outside of Skynyrd and showcase more of his music, namely Blackfoot.
He also has recorded two new songs, both released in 2024, that are very good.
They are called “Never Run Out Of Road” and “Rise Again”. Check them out they’re great.
Anyway, I got to see one of these rare shows by The Rickey Medlocke Band and I have to say it blew me away!!
Rickey owns the Blackfoot name and several years ago, started forming groups using the Blackfoot name to let them go out and play the music for people.
I got to see one of those shows a few years ago too, and as great and fun as that was, nothing beats the originals.
I’ve read of bad blood between other members of Blackfoot towards Rickey and I’m sorry about that, but as a fan of everyone, I’m glad that Rickey is sort of taking the mantle up once again and giving these great songs a proper live experience.
His band, which also includes guitarists Mark Woerpel and Mark Westlund, bassist Johnny Keyte, drummer Steve Soderstrom, and Rickey’s wife Stacy Michelle on backing vocals and occasional lead vocals, is super loud and tight.
Rickey is as great as he’s ever been on vocals and guitar.
He also plays some Skynyrd songs (a couple he played acoustically for the first time ever at this show), other covers, and has played the new songs too but it’s mostly Blackfoot songs, which is fine with me.
I don’t intend to see very many shows in 2025, but this one was a big deal to me because as a Blackfoot fan, seeing Rickey sing/play these songs the way they should be sung and played is the best.
Thank you so much sir for all the great music you have made and continue to make.
Rock on always.
Oh and the opening band, Peacemaker, out of Spartanburg, South Carolina, were very good and rocking too.
They very much sound like a 1970s “Southern Rock Band” in the vein of Skynyrd, Blackfoot, Molly Hatchet, which is a great thing.
Seek them out also.
The Rickey Medlocke Band Set List:
- Sittin’ On Top Of The World
- Rollin’ And Tumblin’
- Fly Away
- Every Man Should Know
- Road Fever
- Railroad Man
- Guitar Slinger’s Song And Dance
- Fox Chase
- Left Turn On A Red Light
- Southern Native
- 30 Days In The Hole (sung by Stacy Michelle)
- Wishing Well
- Needle And The Spoon
- Simple Man (Acoustic)
- White Dove (Acoustic-First time ever played live!!)
- The Seasons (Acoustic-First time ever played live!!)
- Highway Song/Train Train/Highway Song continued
- Encore: Whiskey Train
Peacemaker Set List:
- One Step Behind
- Hittin’ The Road
- Jodie
- Cajun Woman
- On The Hunt (Lynyrd Skynyrd cover)
- Battleground
- Straight Out Tha Bottle
- Down By The Riverside
- Comin’ Home
- Ballad Of The Peacemaker
- Let You Go
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Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
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Keaton’s Cop Movie Review
Keaton’s Cop is a movie I have been wanting to see for many years.
I’m sorry it took me so long to get to it, but it was worth the wait.
I’ve been a Lee Majors fan since I was in middle school, and a fan of Abe Vigoda and Don Rickles for many years also.
And I’ve been a fan of the distribution company of this movie, Cannon (MGM now owns their catalog.), since I was in the 3rd grade.
It delivers everything I wanted and more. Action, comedy, over the top in most ways, and I loved every second of it.
The story centers around Abe Vigoda having to be protected by Lee and Don’s characters (Spoiler alert: Don gets killed.) from getting killed my mobster hit men.
Very basic story, but I think the movie is so much fun.
Lee’s character loves to shoot and hit people out of windows.
There is a fun/funny car chase.
Some good shoot outs and explosions.
Lee and Abe work really work together. Abe especially is funny as always.
Don actually plays against type and is a little more straight laced and not cracking jokes.
It’s kind of a buddy cop type movie that has action and is serious at times, but even then, it’s quite funny I think.
I was very entertained.
It may not be for everyone, but if you like a fun action/comedy that’s soooooo not meant to be taken seriously, then Keaton’s Cop is a movie for you.
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Michael Schenker My Years With UFO Album Review
Michael Schenker has been one of my favorite guitar players since I was a teenager.
I first heard him on the Scorpions debut album “Lonesome Crow”.
I was completely blown away by his playing.
I then got into the band UFO, in which he played guitar for a few times over the decades, recording some of the best hard rock music you could possibly hear.
He also has his own band MSG (Michael Schenker Group), in which there have been many lineups of, and he’s recorded A LOT of albums over the decades with MSG, UFO, and other off shoots, and even solo instrumental albums (Acoustic and electric ones. I highly recommend his instrumental album “Adventures Of The Imagination”. My girlfriend Mariah loves it too.).
50 years after the first UFO album Michael played on (called “Phenomenal”), he has released a newly recorded album of UFO classics featuring many singers and musicians.
It is called “My Years With UFO”.
Guests include Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), Axl Rose (Guns N Roses), Slash (Guns N Roses, Slash’s Snakepit, Velvet Revolver, Slash featuring Myles Kennedy And The Conspirators), Biff Byford (Saxon), Erik Gronwall (Skid Row), Joey Tempest (Europe), Jeff Scott Soto (Sons Of Apollo, Journey), John Norum (Europe, Dokken), Joe Lynn Turner (Rainbow, Deep Purple, Yngwie Malmsteen’s Rising Force), Adrian Vandenberg (Vandenberg, Whitesnake), Carmine Appice (Vanilla Fudge, Cactus, Rod Steward, Blue Murder, King Kobra), Stephen Pearcy (RATT), Roger Glover (Deep Purple), Joel Hoekstra (Trans Siberian Orchestra, Whitesnake, Night Ranger), and others.
Star studded lineup of singers and musicians, but ultimately, it still comes down to the songs and Michael’s phenomenal guitar playing. And he is still PHENOMENAL!!
So, if you are a UFO or Michael fan or a fan of any of the guests, then this album is for you.
Crank it up!!
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My Favorite Albums Released in 2024
It’s now January 3 of 2025 as I type this (Happy Birthday John Paul Jones and Stephen Stills!!), so it’s time for me to give a listing of my favorite albums released in 2024.
Many great ones were released and there’s still many I have not bought and listened to (hopefully someday I will), but until then, here it goes:
1. Riley’s L.A. Guns “The Dark Horse”-This album was initially released digitally early in 2024 but eventually was released physically later in the year. I bought it on digital and preordered the CD. Let me tell you: I love what Phil Lewis and Tracii Guns of L.A. Guns have been doing since they started working together again. They’ve released 4 awesome albums since 2017 and have another coming this April. Having said that, I also like Riley’s L.A. Guns. Their album Renegades is amazing, as is The Dark Horse. Just a great, raw, rock and roll album. I cannot recommend this album enough. Sadly, drummer Steven Riley passed away so I’m guessing this particular version of the band is no more, but either way, they made two awesome rock and roll albums. The Dark Horse is by far my favorite album of 2024.
2. Ace Frehley “10,000 Volts”-I’ve been an Ace fan since I was 15 years old (I’m 42 as I type this.). I love his work in KISS and his solo work. This is another solid album by the one and only Space Ace. I think it’s his most catchiest album, too. Every song is quite good, and if you are a fan of Ace or of good hard but catchy rock and roll, this album is for you. Rock on Ace!!
3. Sebastian Bach “Child Within The Man”-Wow what an album!! Baz is still making awesome rock albums. This is one of his best ever. I love every single song and loved hearing a lot of these songs when I last saw Baz in concert (review here). Do yourself a favor and check out Child Within The Man. Incredible rock album.
4. Burton Cummings “A Few Good Moments”-The singer of The Guess Who put out a phenomenal solo album in 2024. Called A Few Good Moments, it contains 17 awesome songs. Burton is still a great singer/songwriter and I love these songs so much. Thank you sir for this great album.
5. Deep Purple “=1”-Deep Purple are still making phenomenal albums. =1, to me, is one of their best albums ever. I wish that more bands/artists that have been around for decades would still make albums. Especially albums as great as this one. Get this album. You won’t regret it.
6. Judas Priest “Invincible Shield”-The second “Heavy Metal” band is still making phenomenal albums also. Invincible Shield is another awesome album in a long and awesome discography. Priest rules!!
7. Saxon “Hell, Fire And Damnation”-Saxon is another band that’s been around for decades and keeps making arguably their best work. This album is another one of their best.
8. Mark Farner “Closer To My Home”-I had looking forward to this album for a long time. The singer/songwriter/guitarist for Grand Funk Railroad has still got it!! Such a great new album. Thank you sir for making this album.
9. Russell/Guns “Medusa”-Great White singer Jack Russell and L.A. Guns guitarist Tracii Guns recorded a very good album in 2023 and released it in early 2024. If you are a fan of Jack and Tracii, this is the album for you. Sadly, Jack passed away later in 2024, but he was still singing great all the way to the end. Godspeed Jack!! Thank you for your music, and your kindness!! And I’ll always miss you.
10. Bon Jovi “Forever”-This album is kind of a miracle because singer/songwriter Jon Bon Jovi has had vocal issues for the past few years. I’m a fan of all of their albums, some more than others, but I like/love all of them, and this is no different. Lots of very good songs on here, great lyrics, and Jon is singing good. I’m glad that Jon and the band were able to make this album. Bon Jovi Forever indeed!!
That is my top 10 albums of 2024. Here are some honorable mentions:
Mr. Big “Ten”-Solid album from this great band.
Black Country Communion “V”-Another very good album from Glenn Hughes, Joe Bonamassa, Jason Bonham, and Derek Sherinian.
Motley Crue “Cancelled”-Not an album, but a 3 song EP. I wish it was a full album because Motley is one of my favorite bands ever, but I’ll take what I can get. I’ve played these songs a bunch and I’m glad that the band is still making new music. I wish guitarist Mick Mars was still there (He put out a solid solo album in 2024 too, listed below.) but nevertheless, Motley still rock and I still love the band no matter what.
Mick Mars “The Other Side Of Mars”-I’m glad Mick was FINALLY able to release his debut solo album. It’s very heavy. Thank you Mick for this!!
The Black Crowes “Happiness Bastards”-Welcome return to Chris and Rich Robinson. Rocking album!!
Punky Meadows “Wrap Me Up”-Not an album, but a phenomenal Christmas original. It should be a future classic.
Like I said earlier in this post, there is so many more albums that were released in 2024 I have not yet bought and heard, but having said that, this is my definitive 2024 list of albums.
Hopefully 2025 will be another great year for new music!!
