Blog
Your blog category
-
Van Zant Always Look Up Album Review
Brothers Johnny (Lynyrd Skynyrd/solo artist) and Donnie Van Zant (38 Special) have released their first album as a duo since 2007.
Called Always Look Up, it is a Christian album featuring Johnny and Donnie’s great vocals and songwriting in a phenomenal way.
This album is extremely positive, powerful, and inspiring.
You don’t have to be a Christian to enjoy this album, although it would help.
Either way, I find this album to be a feel good album and we as a world need words and songs like this more than ever.
Johnny and Donnie have provided a great service with this album and I thank them both very much.
All of these songs would sound great in churches or anywhere for that matter.
Give it a listen and I dare you to not feel good afterwards.
And thanks guys for signing it too (courtesy of Talk Shop Live)!!
-
Wrestling With The Devil By Lex Luger Book Review
I’ve been a wrestling fan since I was six or seven years old.
One of the wrestlers I grew up loving was “The Total Package” Lex Luger.
After reading his book, Wrestling With The Devil, I am an even bigger fan of Lex.
The book covers his upbringing, playing sports, getting into wrestling and what I think was a great wrestling career, his unfortunate problems, and ultimately his great redemption and finding God and Jesus Christ.
This book is very inspiring and even with the problems that Lex has had and experienced, he proves that it is never too late to come out the other side and be a better person and have a better life.
Thank you Lex for this great book. I’m so glad I became a fan of yours when I did and as I said, I’m an even bigger fan now. Thank you sir and God Bless You.
-
Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus Movie Review
I’ve been a Charles Bronson fan since I was in the 3rd grade.
I grew up watching his movies and am still a fan to this day.
I’ve even made my girlfriend Mariah a fan of Bronson.
However, as much of a fan as I am, there was one movie in particular I had never seen until many years after it aired on television.
Yes Virginia, There Is a Santa Claus was a TV movie released in 1991, actually when I became a fan, but I just missed it.
Hey better late than never.
This is quite the departure for what Bronson had become known for at this point.
He started off playing all kinds of different roles, but later on, he became known for playing killers, cops, and basically all tough guy roles. And he did them well.
This movie brought him back, I think, to being a more well rounded character actor.
He plays Frank Church, a newspaper reporter who has covered so many big stories in his career. However, his editor/friend played by Ed Asner, gives him the assignment of a lifetime: writing a piece in reply to a little girl named Virginia asking the newspaper if there is indeed a Santa Claus.
Bronson’s character is also self destructive, having lost his wife recently, so he is struggling. However, he does find inspiration and is able to respond to Virginia with this great, touching piece declaring that there is indeed a Santa Claus.
This is a very heartwarming and inspiring movie.
Also starring Richard Thomas as Virginia’s Dad, this is a great Christmas movie and just a great movie for the whole family to see.
Yes quite a departure from what Charles Bronson had become known for, but if you only know of his tough guy roles, this movie I feel will pleasantly surprise and show you that he really could act.
Although he does have one moment in the movie where he punches someone, his character here has much more depth and it was refreshing to see, even though I love his tough guy roles tremendously.
Also, I miss him very much.
-
Red One Movie Review
The day after I saw the great movie Wicked (review here), I went back to my local theater to see the movie Red One.
I’ve been looking forward to this one for some time and I was not disappointed.
Dwayne Johnson (The Rock in WWE) plays Callum Drift, the body guard and friend of Santa Claus (J.K. Simmons), and is one day away from retiring.
However, Santa is kidnapped and Callum has to find him.
A great cast includes Chris Evans (Jack O’ Malley, who ends up helping Callum and he’s awesome in this movie), Lucy Liu (Zoe, who is a top government agent working alongside Callum), Kiernan Shipka (Gryla, the main villain who is a shape shifting witch plotting to imprison every person on the naughty list in a snow globe), Kristofer Hivju (Krampus, Santa’s brother), and Bonnie Hunt (Mrs. Claus).
This is already a favorite of mine and I want to see this movie many more times over the course of my life.
It is a fun action movie (which I’m all about) and it’s also a fun Christmas movie for everyone to see.
Dwayne Johnson and Chris Evans make a great team in this very fun, action packed, Christmas thrill ride.
Red One is a great movie. Period.
-
Wicked (2024) Movie Review
My girlfriend Mariah went to see the movie Wicked and loved it. She really wanted me to go see it so I did.
I was not sure I would like it, but as it turned out, I loved it.
This movie mainly focuses on the characters Elphaba Thropp (played by Cynthia Erivo), later known as the Wicked Witch of the West, and Galinda Upland (played by Ariana Grande-Butera), later known as Glinda The Good. It focuses on their relationship, which is not good at first, but they both later become friends.
If you are a fan of The Wizard Of Oz or a fan of this story, then I think you will enjoy it.
Along with Erivo and Grande, Oscar winner Michelle Yeoh plays Madame Morrible, Jeff Goldblum plays The Wizard of Oz. That’s just some of the great cast.
And the songs are phenomenal too and it’s a beautiful looking movie.
This movie is also part 1 of a 2 part story. I know some people may not like this aspect of it, but I’m ok with it. It’s more to look forward to.
Like I said, if you are a fan of The Wizard Of Oz or of musicals, I cannot imagine you not enjoying this movie.
I’m not an expert on this story and I loved it.
Go see it!!
-
Alex Van Halen Brothers Book Review
I’ve been looking forward to this book being released for some time.
Brothers by Alex Van Halen, the drummer of the band Van Halen and brother of guitarist Edward Van Halen (RIP).
I also bought the Audio CDs of the book because I knew that Alex himself read it for this and wanted to hear him read it as I read along too.
It was worth the extra money because you can hear it in his voice than he means what he says and that you can hear that he’s gone back in time while reading the book.
The book Brothers covers a lot of ground. Alex and Edward’s upbringing, coming to America from Holland, starting to play music as kids, swapping instruments, playing in earlier bands, forming what became Van Halen, their relationship with singer David Lee Roth, playing backyard parties, clubs, making a demo with Gene Simmons of KISS, getting signed to Warner Brothers Records, making their first 6 albums, and more.
I loved this book and especially hearing Alex tell these stories.
I only wish the book went beyond the Dave years and focused on the other years of VH also. There are a few mentions of some of those times, but not much.
But either way, if you are a VH fan, this is a MUST READ.
And if possible, please get the audio too. You won’t regret it.
-
The Substance Movie Review
My girlfriend Mariah and I watched the movie called The Substance this past weekend.
We became aware of this movie some time ago and thought it looked really good.
Well, we were right.
If you have not seen this yet and want to, avoid reading the rest of this because I will be giving spoilers. Otherwise, please read on.
Demi Moore, in may I say one of her best roles, plays an Academy Award winning actress who is now hosting an exercise show. However, she finds out indirectly from her boss (played by Dennis Quaid in a very over the top performance) that she is being fired for being too old.
After this, she gets in a car accident (she suffers no injuries) and while she is at the hospital, a nurse gives her a USB drive that features an ad about a way to be young again.
Intrigued, she goes to this very shady, isolated looking place to get the stuff needed to make the procedure happen.
And let’s just say it initially works. What happens is that another form of her (played by Margaret Qualley) comes out of Demi and for 7 days, this part of herself will exist and Demi will basically not exist. But after 7 days, she has to “not exist” and Demi will exist for 7 days.
This goes on for awhile and as I said initially, it works. However, both get greedy let’s say with their time and how they handle things, and in the end, it does not work out for either part.
I think this movie is excellent.
Again, Demi gives one of her best performances.
Dennis Quaid is soooooo over the top.
Margaret Qualley is great.
The cinematography, sets, music, everything is phenomenal.
This movie I consider science fiction, but also an extreme story of how people will do anything to remain young.
Seek out The Substance.
-
Mark Farner Closer To My Home Album Review
I’ve been waiting for this for some time.
The great singer/songwriter/guitarist Mark Farner (Grand Funk Railroad) has released a new solo album!!
Released on November 8 of 2024, the album is called Closer To My Home and it is a phenomenal album.
Produced by Mark and Mark Slaughter (Slaughter, The Vinnie Vincent Invasion), this album has everything you want if you are a fan of Mark or Grand Funk.
Every song is phenomenal. It even closes with a Grand Funk classic (I’m Your Captain/Closer To Home).
I can already say this is one of the best albums of 2024 and one of Mark’s best albums.
Thank you sir for making this album and for signing it too!!!!
It rocks, but is yet soulful and has tons of melody and great lyrics.
Rock on Mark Farner and thanks for giving me a shout out recently on a Facebook Live chat too (video below).
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
-
Sebastian Bach Rocks Ashland, KY!!!!
- Date of Concert: Friday, November 8, 2024
- Location of Concert: Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, KY
- Opener: Kurt Deimer
Wow I needed this!!
So did my friend John Robinette, who sadly just recently lost his job.
We both went to see Sebastian Bach in concert at the Paramount Arts Center in Ashland, KY. Just a few minutes from where I live and where I was born.
The opening act, Kurt Deimer, started off the night with a really rocking set. His debut album is out April 25 of 2025, which is his birthday. I definitely want to buy it. He does have an EP out now, though, and songs are available to stream online. Seek him and his awesome band out.
But the main event, Sebastian Bach, came next and boy as always, he rocked!!
He and his great band played almost the entire first Skid Row album (2024 marks 35 years since it’s release) and several songs from Sebastian’s great new album Child Within The Man (my favorite Sebastian solo album along with his album Angel Down), and a few songs from the second Skid Row album Slave To The Grind.
Sebastian told some funny stories about KISS (He gave a water bottle to a little kid in the audience because KISS guitarist Ace Frehley handed him a water bottle from the stage when Sebastian was 11. And he got one of KISS singer/bassist Gene Simmon’s cup of fake blood and kept it in his refrigerator for 20 years, and one day his Mom was over cleaning and she threw it away thinking it was trash.), really pumped the crowd (he even brought two young little girls on stage to rock out to Youth Gone Wild), even signed a few things for some fans, and really had a great time. Which in turn caused the audience to have a great time.
Sebastian always delivers the goods and I and my friend John thank him for all the music and for the great concert. We both needed it.
Sorry though to my friend Brandon Lange, who was going to go to the show, but unfortunately he was not able to make it. So, he gave me his ticket, in which I gave to my friend John. John thanks you Brandon and I say get well soon my friend.
Again, thank you Sebastian for everything. I love the Child Within The Man album.
We love you Baz and please keep on rocking!!
I took videos too but I can’t yet post them. I will soon.
Keep on rocking everyone.
Sebastian Bach Setlist:
- What Do I Got To Lose? (New Song)
- Slave To The Grind
- Here I Am
- Big Guns
- Sweet Little Sister
- 18 And Life
- Can’t Stand The Heartache
- Freedom (New Song)
- Piece Of Me
- Everybody Bleeds (New Song)
- Monkey Business (w part of Tom Sawyer by RUSH)
- I Remember You
- (Hold On) To The Dream (New Song)
- Rattlesnake Shake
- Youth Gone Wild
- Future Of Youth
Kurt Deimer Setlist:
- Dance
- Doom
- Look
- Have A Cigar (Pink Floyd cover)
- Hero
- Whatcha Sayin’
- Live Or Die
- Naive
- Fight
Photo Gallery (click on thumbnail to view larger image)
Video Gallery (click on thumbnail to play video)
-
Behind The Mask Of The Horror Actor By Doug Bradley (Pinhead from Hellraiser Franchise) Book Review
Horror movie icon Doug Bradley (Pinhead in most of the Hellraiser movies) released a book in 2004 called Behind The Mask Of The Horror Actor.
Part autobiography, part history book, Doug talks about getting into acting, earlier projects and working on the Hellraiser movies, but also, he talks extensively about other Horror movie icons, like Lon Chaney Sr. and Jr., Bela Lugosi, Boris Karloff, Christopher Lee, Vincent Price, Peter Cushing, Robert Englund, and many more.
He also talks extensively about Horror movie characters, like Dracula, Frankenstein, Phantom Of The Opera, Michael Myers, Freddie Krueger, Jason Voorhees, Leatherface, and much more.
He talks about earlier origins of Horror characters too and people who made up many Horror characters, including Clive Barker, who did the forward to the book.
This is a very good book about the history of Horror but also is a partial autobiography of Pinhead himself, Doug Bradley.
I really enjoyed this book.
