by Matman
A few weeks back I made my first pilgrimage to The Vault Music Hall and Pub in New Bedford, MA to see Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal and his one man show, Storytellers. Since I have so much to talk about, this review will be covering a lot of stuff, from the show, to the venue, the burger I had and fun before and after the show. (The Show) Until Bumblefoot became a part of the ASIA Royal Family tour, I didn't know Ron could sing! Sure, his talents as a guitarist are obvious, but doing a show where it is just you, a guitar and a microphone requires a special talent... that Ron Thal has. One of the things that really came across at this show is his magnetic personality, drawing the fans in with stories about smelly jackets, blizzard driving, the origins of his beard and so much more. Playing a mix of original songs like Little Brother Is Watching, covers like Iron Maiden's Wasted Years and music from his old band, Guns N' Roses, Thal showed off his talents as a performer and up close, gave you a glimpse into his brilliance as a guitarist. He also mid show, got so excited about something, he decided to have an impromptu guitar clinic, making it informative for the players in the audience and entertaining and funny for the non-players. (The Venue) I have never been to The Vault Music Hall and Pub at Greasy Luck and as far as venues go, W-O-W! Despite the 90 minute ride I will be going to more shows there; Spread Eagle, UFO, Autograph to name a few. The intimate hall has a good size stage, great vantage points from everywhere and the sound is very clear and presented in a way that is clear, loud and yet, not overpowering. If you wanna get close to the stage, you can do that... but if you wanna sit and enjoy, you can do that too. The entire staff were great, too. That is something you don't always hear about from rock clubs. (The Burger) Despite Ron (pre-show) recommending the coley-flower pizza to me, I decided to go with a good old fashion cheese burger with bacon, fries and soda and (well done of course) and if I thought it would be a typical club/pub burger... I was way wrong!! This was amazingly delicious and was reasonably priced so, come for the concert but eat before the show. (Pre/Post Show) When you walked into the venue, Ron was already out, meeting fans, taking about anything and everything and had for sale CD's and his line of hat sauces that of course I got right into. BUMBLICIOUS! is incredibly flavorful and goes great on a fat chicken and turkey sandwich as well as my sweet and spicy chili and BUMBLEF*****D! will just kill you, so be warned. Before and after show, Ron left every fan with a sense of friendship and gratitude for their support, talking about what they wanted and posing for a zillion pictures. If Ron's Storyteller show comes to your local venue, GO!!!! It will be a fun 90 minutes you will wish happened every single day.
0 Comments
Opening Act:
Megadeth prepping for tour Joe Elliot not worried about making new music Stryper fan weekend Spread Eagle tour dates Ear Candy: Haunt--Mind Freeze (2020) | hauntthenation.bandcamp.com/album/mind-freeze Sons of Apollo MMXX (2020) | sonsofapollo.com Comin Atcha Live: Bumblefoot at New Bedford, MA 1/5/20 Rockversation: Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal Bonus Track: Jorn—Needles and Pins From the album Heavy Rock Radio II - Executing The Classics. Buy or Stream: https://radi.al/HRRII 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
The new year is a bit over a week old and already we are getting some amazing new music; one brand new to me, one classic and the last... a very anticipated release!!!! Support your local record shops and live music... Serious Black - SUITE 226 (AFM Records) WOW, friggin' WOW!!! Releasing their 4th album, Serious Black have made a huge impact on my ears and eyes. The band have a theatrical side that I love and musically they are as solid as anyone out there. From the power metal of When The Stars Are Right to the Ghost sounding Fate Of All Humanity, Serious Black cover all the metal/hard rock bases in a very familiar and unique way. SUITE 226 is an album a bit on the darker side but presented in a way that is quite pleasing. Rating 7.5 out of 10. Release date Feb 14, 2020 Blue Oyster Cult - CULT CLASSIC (Frontiers s.r.l.) In the 1970's and 1980's, BOC was a band who had it all; mystery, a dark side and an image that made people a bit fearful for their lives... and souls. BUT, more important than all of that was the music, no, the amazing music the band recorded. Recently signed to Frontiers, the band are re-releasing CLASSICS, a greatest hits collection that features 14 classics that have been lovingly re-recorded. Songs like (Don't Fear) The Reaper, This Ain't The Summer Of Love and Astronomy have been modernized, but in a way that still sounds like the originals, just cleaner and more alive! Blue Oyster Cult are one of the best and here... you will here why. Rating 8 out of 10 Release Date January 24th, 2020 Revolution Saints - RISE (Frontiers s.r.l.) It is amazing and very exciting that we are getting a third album from Deen Castronovo, Doug Aldrich and Jack Blades, but what is so shocking is how good it is! Like their first two, RISE is centered around drummer Castronovo and his amazing voice and features 11 songs that just make you feel good. With tracks like When The Heartache Is Gone, Coming Home and Win Or Lose, you will hear some of the best and most heartfelt melodic rock, ever! High praise but so well deserved. Now please... hit the road!!!! Rating 9.5 out of 10 Release Date January 24, 2020 by Matman
Never thinking we would be getting another studio album from Sons Of Apollo I was shocked to find out... we were!!!! After all, the band members are the best of the best and have numerous projects to keep them busy. There was something about the band’s debut album, PSYCHOTIC SYMPHONY that checked off all the boxes for me; heavy yet melodic, progressive but not pretentious and solid vocals and melody. Now I, I mean we get album number two... MMXX or 2020 from InsideOut Music/Sony. Following their debut, a brilliant live album and a lot of touring, Sons Of Apollo really have cemented as a band, writers and musicians. The first thing I notice with the eight new songs is a lot of depth and chances for everyone to shine, but not at the expense of the song. When you have the musical pedigree of guitarist Ron ‘Bumblefoot’ Thal, bassist Billy Sheehan, keyboardist Derek Sherinian and drummer Mike Portnoy, there is a chance that the music can become just a showcase of talent and come apart very quickly. Here, more than on their debut, I feel the songs truly come first. Goodbye Divinity, King Of Delusion, Wither To Black and Desolate July weave in and out of styles and emotion thanks to the amazing vocals of Jeff Scott Soto. That dude has got to keep up with a lot going on underneath his voice, a voice I have loved since I first heard him on the first Rising Force album (with Yngwie Malmsteen) way back in 1984. On MMXX, Sons Of Apollo have captured the elements I love about the players as individuals and the styles/genres they play within. Every song will strike a chord with the listener differently and bring them to a good place. For me, MMXX is a cross between the legendary RAINBOW RISING and King Crimson’s RED, especially on the 16-minute epic, New World Today! Beautiful.... This is the album that sadly every new release in 2020 has to measure up to. The question I have been getting asked by fans of the band and friends who know I will be reviewing the album is what does MMXX sound like? Guns N’ Roses, Dream Theatre, Art Of Anarchy, Winery Dogs, Mr. Big, Talisman, UFO, Rising Force, ASIA, Black Country Communion? My answer is a simple... yes. THAT is the sound of Sons Of Apollo!!! Matman Rating – 9 out of 10 For tour information - https://sonsofapollo.com/live/ For 2020 album pre-order - https://soa.lnk.to/MMXX by Matman
The new year is only three days old and already, the new releases are coming in hard and heavy! Here is a quick blurb about three great albums to look out for this month. Also, notice I have expanded the ratings from 5 to 10. After 15 years of stopping at '5' I feel that expanding to '10' will give more freedom and honesty in the review process. I could have made it '11', but that would be too easy. HEAVY ROCK RADIO 2 - EXECUTING THE CLASSICS by Jorn (Frontiers s.r.l.) Jorn Landie possesses one of the best rock/metal voices going. Always (rightfully) compared to the late Ronnie James Dio and Whitesnake's David Coverdale should give you an idea of how good he is. On this second collection of covers, Jorn keeps it close to his wheel house with great versions of Bad Attitude (Deep Purple), Mystery (Dio) and other metal anthems, but it's his choice to cover Lonely Nights (Bryan Adams), Winning (Santana) and Needles And Pins (The Searchers) that really make this more than just an album of covers. Love his voice, but really fall for the way he handles some amazing music. (7 out of 10) Release Date - 1/24/2020 ECHOES by A Life Divided (AFM Records) This German band is near impossible to lump in with any one style or genre... and that gives it very cool listening experience. Lyrically the songs all seem to be about the darker side of the human condition; sadness, isolation, addictions, anger, loneliness... very much like The Cure and New Order, but with a modern rock feel. The production on songs like Dry Your Eyes, Rock N Roll Star and The Ordinary brings the songs to life, making A Life Divided a band to watch for this year. The highest compliment I can give this album is after one listen I need to seek out the bands entire back catalog. Brilliant stuff. (7 out of 10) Release Date - 1/31/2019 LIGHTING STRIKES TWICE by DECARLO (Frontiers s.l.r.) Without reading bio about the band, I was struck by how 1970's cool this debut album sounded with so many nods to Boston, a few Foreigner moments as well as America and the legendary band New England. Featuring some amazing songs like A Better Day, the title track and my favorite, There She Goes, a song that can only be described as pure magic. As I would discover (or should have known), vocalist Tommy DeCarlo has been the vocalist with Boston since 2007. But it isn't a great record because it sounds like Boston. It's a great album because of the songs and performances by DeCarlo, Tommy DeCarlo Jr. (guitars) and Dan Hitz (drums) make it great! A feel good album that is needed in times of not feeling good! (8 out of 10) Release Date - 1/24/2020
In the last episode of 2019, we recap our favorites of the year! And the categories are:
Favorite 5 Albums of 2019 Favorite 3 Songs of 2019 Favorite 3 Album Covers of 2019 Favorite 3 Concerts of 2019 Favorite Live Album Album from 2018 We're Still Listening To 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].
Opening Act:
Motley Crue, Poison and Def Leppard to tour Grammy nominations The Who Revolution Saints Ear Candy: Alter Bridge--Walk the Sky (2019) Work of Art--Exhibits (2019) Comin Atcha Live: UFO at Mohegan Sun in CT 11/2 Slayer at Mass Mutual Center in MA 11/8 Top of the Pops: Billboard Top 25 Rock Tracks 11-24-1984 Bonus Track: Sons of Apollo The new single “Goodbye Divinity,” from the upcoming album MMXX, our january 2020. 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
ALL ALBUMS WILL BE RELEASED TOMORROW, NOVEMBER 8TH!!!!!!!! QUIET RIOT - HOLLYWOOD COWBOYS (Frontiers s.r.l.) WOW! Talk about capturing a time and style, Quiet Riot's latest album HOLLYWOOD COWBOYS brought me right back to they heyday of the band. The album is full of sing-along anthems, straight ahead rockers and some very catchy songs that the band are known for. Every track is driven by the hard and heavy drums of Frankie Banali and amazing vocals of James Durbin who doesn't copy the legendary styling of the late Kevin DuBrow... he pays homage to them. With Alex Grossi on guitar and Chuck Wright on bass, tracks like Don't Call It Love, Hearbreak City (my favorite) and Holding On not only bring back the memories of the 1980's, but incorporate the sounds that influenced them, like Led Zeppelin, Humble Pie and Bad Company. Forget the fact that Durbin has now left the band (being replaced by Jizzy Pearl), HOLLYWOOD COWBOYS is a fantastic listen that will give the QR fans exactly what they hoped for. (4 out of 5) PRETTY MAIDS - UNDRESS YOUR MADNESS (Frontiers s.r.l.) From one of my all time favorite bands comes yet another amazing album!!!! Pretty Maids are one of the more criminally neglected bands ever and I can't understand why. With UNDRESS YOUR MADNESS, the band continue to build on their hard rock legacy. Serpentine, Firesoul Fly, the almost ballad Will You Still Kiss Me and my favorites from the album Shadowlands and Strength Of A Rose are some of the best songs the band have ever recorded. For a band with over a zillion albums under their belt, it's hard to imagine Pretty Maids could have just recorded their best one... ever. yup, it's that good!!! On UNDRESS YOUR MADNESS, vocalist Ronnie Atkins, guitarist Ken Hammer, bassist Rene Shades, keyboardist and drummer Chris Laney and drummer Allan Sørensen created an alum that will be in my Top Ten of 2019. Amazing... (5 out of 5) TYKETTO - STRENGTH IN NUMBERS LIVE (Frontiers s.r.l.) I was first introduced to Tyketto because of vocalist Danny Vaughn's work with former UFO bassist Pete Way's band, Waysted. Sadly the band came out as the music landscape changed in the 1990's. Thankfully Tyketto still get out there and until I check them off my 'need to see live' bucket list, the new live album, STRENGTH IN NUMBERS LIVE will just have to do. The band celebrate their second album releases in 1994, Tyketto just bring it. From first song to last, Vaughn's vocals are crisp and soulful as he hits every note on every song. All Over Me, Catch My Fall, the perfect Standing Alone and the very rare Wait Forever bring back a time when music was not just what we listened to, it was who and what we were. Thank you Danny, Michael Clayton (drums), Chris Green (guitar), Greg Smith (bass), Ged Rylands (keyboards) and Tyketto for reminding me of that with this album. (4 out of 5) WORK OF ART - EXHIBITS (Frontiers s.r.l.) Wait... What? Where did this come from? How did I miss this? From Sweden comes Work Of Art, a trio from Sweden who seem to be a near perfect mix of what I love in music. The band is pure sticky sweet AOR that blends the classic sounds of Foreigner, the prog-pop of ASIA, the song structure of Survivor and the unexpected power of Night Ranger. Yup... all that!!!! Another Night, Gotta Get Out, What You Want From Me... holy crap is this album amazing!!!! Vocalist Lars Säfsund reminds me of a smoother Bad Company's Brian Howe and joined by guitarist Robert Säll and drummer Herman Furin this album is a serious contender for my album of the year. If you know me and my musical tastes... you'll know why!!! (5 out of 5)
Opening Act:
Drums are done for the new Saxon album Def Leppard to release live album featuring 1980 concert UFO Last Orders Tour Dates AOR/Melodic Rock Albums Chart Ear Candy: The Beatles--Abbey Road (1969) Korn--The Nothing (2019) Comin Atcha Live: Ghost at the DCU Center in Worcester 10/21/19 Rockversation: Brian Howe Matt recently spoke with the singer about his time in Bad Company, his solo work, and more. Bonus Track: Passion--Trespass On Love From the upcoming self-titled album, which will be available via Frontiers Music Srl on January 24, 2020. 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! ou can also hit us up on twitter at twitter.com/powerchordspod, and email us at [email protected]. by Matman
A few years ago I wrote my first music biography, UFO - YOUR FAVORITE BAND"S FAVORITE BAND, my love letter to one of my favorite bands ever, UFO. If you haven't read the book let me give you a quick introduction to why I love UFO so much! As a young fan discovering his own musical destiny, I would always read interviews with my favorite bands and musicians singing the praises of a UK band called UFO. Without any way to hear their music in 1982 except buying an album I picked up a copy of their then current album, MECHANIX (at Caldors) and fell in love instantly. UFO had power, solid musicianship, catchy songs and a singer that sang with honesty and conviction... everything I loved in my music. I began an obsession that year with two bands in 1982, UFO and ASIA, the latter being my second book, ASIA - TIME AND TIME AGAIN. From MECHANIX I worked my way backwards in their catalog, loving every album and line-up for what they were delivering. I also discovered the bands that former members would be a part of or came from and gain, my musical awakening took another amazing turn. Despite their working dysfunction, drug and alcohol problems and member conflicts, each album and each song would speak to my soul and color my world like not too many others. In fact, when I was singing in the band Head First, we used to open our shows with We Belong To The Night! UFO would break up, reform, split again, come back in a different form, disband, return with the classic line-up, divorce, fight over the name and then in 2004, UFO would return to a consistent tour/album/tour cycle. Sadly for me and so many fans, this all comes to an end this year with one of the band's final shows happening at the Wolf Den in Uncasville, CT on November 2nd. How do I feel? Emotionally I'm all over the place. I'm so sad that it's all coming to an end but happy that the band can finally say goodbye on their terms and on a high note. For founding members, vocalist Phil Mogg and drummer Andy Parker, I'm happy they'll be able to sit back, relax and reflect on their legacy and take pride in what they created and maintained. For guitarist Vinnie Moore (a member since 2003), I want to thank for maintaining the class and skills the songs needed and I look forward to diving deeper into your latest solo album, SOUL SHIFTER. A thank you to guitarist/keyboardist Neil Carter for returning to the fold following the sad loss of Paul Raymond. I can't wait to finally see you on stage. And finally, a huge thank you to bassist Rob De Luca (a member for almost 10 years). Your friendship was unexpected, your talent unquestioned and being able to 'hold it all down' live is something to behold. Now let's get Spread eagle on the road!!!!! If you haven't seen UFO live you have a few opportunities left, so get out there!!!! I guarantee you that you won't regret it. Not only does UFO have an incredible catalog of music but they are awesome on stage. Prior to my books release I got to meet Phil Mogg and Andy Parker and found them to be very kind, gracious with their time and appreciative of my work on the book. I don't know if I'll get to see them again but if I do I will again thank them for everything and hope they enjoy their non rock 'n' roll life. UFO, I miss you already.... |
Let's Rock!The Power Chords Podcast is a twice-monthly podcast celebrating rock and metal music of the '70s, '80s, '90s and beyond. The show is co-hosted by Matt Herring and Brian LeTendre. Archives
June 2020
Categories |