Opening Act: 
New KXM song ‘War of Words’ (https://youtu.be/YAhExetws2Q) 
Chris Adler’s Megadeth drum set destroyed
The Defiants new album Zokusho coming 9/13

Ear Candy: 
Warrant--Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich (1989)
Spread Eagle--Subway to the Stars (2019)

Six Degrees of Frankie B.

Comin Atcha Live: 
Warrant--MGM Springfield 7/27/19

Rockversation: Rob De Luca
Matt spoke with the founding member of Spread Eagle about the band’s new album Subway to the Stars, as well as UFO’s final tour. Keep up with Spread Eagle at https://spreadeagle.us/.

Bonus Track: The Defiants--Hollywood in Headlights
From the upcoming album Zokusho, out 9/13 on Frontiers.  Preorder now at http://radi.al/Zokusho. 

Thanks for listening! If you're subscribing on iTunes or Google play, please leave us a review, as it will help spread the word about the show! You can also hit us up on twitter at twitter.com/powerchordspod, and email us at [email protected].

by Matman

A literal lifetime for me has passed since the release of the last Spread Eagle album, OPEN TO THE PUBLIC back in 1993.  I got married, had two kids (one who loves the band's bassist Rob De Luca), changed careers... and well, got old! In the time between then and now, De Luca and vocalist Ray West have done their own things, but both realized it was time to come back in a BIG way... and that big way is SUBWAY TO THE STAIRS, being released on Frontiers s.r.l on August 9th.

If you are a longtime fan of the band and are looking for music that has the street tough, rock/metal sound with some serious punk influences, have I some good news for you!!! Yes, you get all of that, plus a lot more. From start (the amazing title track that reminds me of The Replacements) to finish (the beautiful Solitaire), SUBWAY TO THE STARS is an incredible listen that is more diverse than their first two albums with moments of progression (29th Of February and Dead Air) and some straight ahead rockers like Cut Through (my favorite, for now) and Sound Of Speed that are just full of riffs and serious attitude.  The song on this album that is my other favorite is the unexpected, out of nowhere curve-ball, Gutter Rhymes For Valentines.  This song will turn a lot of heads for it's melodic drive, beautiful vocals, Ramones We Want The Airwaves rhythm guitar and lyrics that I think are about some bad things going on... but it is just so perfect a song!         

Joining West and De Luca are guitarist Ziv Shalev and drummer (and cousin of Rob) Rik De Luca. Both add their own flair and personalities to the songs, but remain faithful to the core sound the band created in the mid 1990's.  

Nothing is worth waiting 26 years for, especially music from a band you have always loved.... but those are the breaks and that's life. But if I (and the legion of Spread Eagle fans) had to wait a lifetime, i'm so thankful this is the album we are getting. SUBWAY TO THE STARS is a total monster!  I'm sure Ray and Rob would have liked to have done this album sooner, but then we wouldn't have gotten this fantastic release... a definite candidate for my album of the year.... in a year when so much amazing music has been released... this one is just amazing-er!!!

ANNNDDD.... the album's cover is awesome, simple, expressive and gives you a feel for what is lurking inside. Nice job Tristan Greatrex.

In the next episode of Power Chords we will feature my recent interview with Rob De Luca.  

​For more on the band and the new album, click here!!! 

​To hear the first single, click here!!!!

MATMAN RATING - 5 OUT OF 5

Opening Act: 
Slayer announces last leg of farewell tour
New KXM album coming in September
Brian Johnson’s show coming to AXS
New AC/DC tour 
Sons of Apollo live album

Ear Candy: 
Dio--Dream Evil (1987)
Billy Sherwood--Citizen: In the Next Life (2019)

Six Degrees of Frankie B.

Comin Atcha Live:
Kip Winger--Enfield CT 7/6/19

Rockversation: Jim Peterik
Matt recently spoke with the prolific musician and founder of Survivor about his most recent World Stage project, Winds of Change, which released in April 2019. 

Bonus Track: Graham Bonnet Band--Night Games
From the new live album Graham Bonnet Band: Live in Tokyo, out now.


Thanks for listening! If you're subscribing on iTunes or Google play, please leave us a review, as it will help spread the word about the show! You can also hit us up on twitter at twitter.com/powerchordspod, and email us at [email protected].

by Matman

A few years back I interviewed Billy Sherwood and we began to talk about the Doctor Who book I wrote. He asked me if i ever listened to his album, CITIZEN, a concept album about a time traveler who ends up being reborn in different times and events in history. Doctor Who the musical, SOLD! I went right out and got the album and loved it! Now the next chapter....

As a musician, writer and producer, Billy Sherwood reminds me of Todd Rundgren, a visionary who has his own sound and styles and does what he does because he loves it. On CITIZEN - IN THE NEXT LIFE we return to the ever changing world(s) and times of the 'citizen' as he is there with Adolf Hitler in his bunker and spends time with Mata Hari, Christopher Columbus and Wyatt Earp... all in song. There is even a touching and quite emotional moment when the 'citizen' becomes late YES bassist Chris Squire, a friend of Sherwood. If you didn't know this, Squire selected Sherwood as his replacement in YES before he passed away.  

On first listen, I wasn't quite feeling the fun and adventure like I did on the first.  After about 20 full plays I really began to let myself become immersed in the album, and now I'm listening to it because I love it.  The songs are incredibly enjoyable, something not easy to do on a concept album and Billy's musicianship (he plays everything) is stellar. Each song has its own feel. like the Trevor Rabin/YES influenced We Shall Ride Again and Sofia, to the very heavy The Partisan and the dreamy Hold Quite.  Sherwood pulls out all the stops creating a modern masterpiece that also to me sounds like classic Genesis and for some odd reason, Robert Plant's PICTURES AT ELEVEN. 

CITIZEN - IN THE NEXT LIFE is for anyone who loves challenging music, thought provoking lyrics and just a little more than verse, chorus, solo, verse, extended solo.  Billy Sherwood should be incredibly proud of this album and I hope there is more Citizen in our future... or past.... or whenever. 

MATMAN RATING - 5 OUT OF 5  

CITIZEN - IN THE NEXT LIFE will be released on July 12th through Frontiers Music S.L.R.