Read on as CV SW sits down with Johnny Metal of LOUD ANGEL, still relevant, still rocking after all these years, and even now with a new album release.
What’s it like to be on the “naughty list” of the music industry yet idolized and loved by so many fans? CV SouthWest Magazine takes time to sit down with Tony West & Blacklist Union, the bad boys from LA. Tony opens up about past band drama, he state of the msic scene, his personal pain, and how he almost quit the industry but now is back as popular as ever, with a strong lineup behind him and the same energetic stage show. Come inside and see what makes BLU tick.
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It has been a long and interesting road for Tony West and the boys in Blacklist Union. But through band drama, life drama, and a bassist with tits, Tony & BLU have persevered, rising from depths to a new found popularity, a killer sound, and a comradarie that sets the foundation for their current success.
<CV SW> Alright, give us the roster of the band and their roles.
I am Tony West the founder and lead singer of the band.
Carmine D'Amico is our guitarist, Keith Horne is our other guitarist, Eric Hatchett is our bass player and the man behind the incredible harmonies.
Moon Hills, our drummer who‘s been with us since day one is moving to Boston in September, so we are going to be auditioning drummers soon. I love that guy and I am sad to see him go.
<CV SW> When you formed the band in 2004, what were you looking for in music when you put it together?
When I formed the band I was looking for real, authentic rock n roll that moves me. The kind that makes you want to drive faster, drink harder and f**k even harder than that. I spent years wasting time looking and auditioning for bands in LA. People that seek perfection have a rude awakening coming eventually. It doesn‘t exist. The same people talking shit and seeking the "perfect" situation at places like the Rainbow day after
day also have been doing that year after year.
<CV SW> What got you into Rock music? Who or what was the catalyst that really sparked your interest in being a musician?
My Uncle Jimmy really got me into music at 5 years old. He was into Bowie, Iggy, The Ramones, AC/DC, Van Halen. I got to see AC/DC when I was 5...by the time I was 8 I had seen the Ramones 3 times. It was the first time seeing The Ramones when I knew what I was gonna do with my life.
<CV SW> Was BLU your first band? What were you doing before forming BLU?
Uncommon Grudge was my 1st band at 11 years old. It was an Oi! band and I was the drummer. Before BLU I had 2 other bands. Freak Machine and Celebrity Trash. My first band was in 1996 . I was 19. It was a Ramones tribute band.
<CV SW> Tell the story of BLU's evolution and path to right here, to this lineup.
Having band members is like dating. It takes many trials and
tribulations to get it right. Blacklist Union has had quite a path when it comes to band members. Moon Hills our drummer and Carmine D'Amico have stuck by my side thru a lot of things and I love them like brothers. I have dealt with all kinds of shit from people through the years. From Yoko Ono girlfriends, to drug habits, to egos, you name it, I‘ve dealt with it. We even had a bass player who was in the band for four months until he told us his big secret.
<CV SW> Do I really want to hear this?
His secret was he had a pair of tits.
<CV SW> No, really.
No, REALLY! It is amazing to me still to this day that it took us four months to realize the guy had a pair of knockers, and he had to actually tell us. And I don‘t mean man boobs I mean TITS!!!
But I am very happy with the line up now. None of my guys have had breast implants, there are no ego trips, drug problems or Yoko‘s around anymore and it took
a long time to achieve. PLUS, the chemistry we have is something very special.
<CV SW> Tell us what you think it is about THIS lineup that works so well.
We all respect each other as artists and as people. And I think it‘s safe to say that we all do enjoy each other‘s company. We laugh our asses off and we obviously have some of the most Spinal Tap war stories of any band ever.
<CV SW> You said that "BLU has had its share of ups & down through 8 years - any highs & lows you'd like to discuss?
It is no secret I have suffered thru many lows. We put out AFTER THE MOURNING on April 17th 2006 as a tribute to Bianca from BETTY BLOWTORCH, who was my girlfriend at one time. <NOTE: Bianca Halstead was killed in a car accident in 2001> I was devastated when she died. And the ―Hollywood Haters Club‖ did not help with my immense depression. Bianca and I went thru some heavy shit together, which actually ended up breaking us up. We weren‘t even on speaking terms when she died. 10 days after that 1st CD release my ex-wife Tracie Lea Cochran died suddenly from cancer. I was immediately thrown right back into the mourning phase and have just recently, in the past year or so, have been able to let that go. Again, the ―Hollywood Haters Club‖ was evil and darker than anything it showed me before. Believe me, I was no angel in these relationships but I loved those women honestly and dearly and was crucified for some of my choices in those relationships. The
funny thing is that when Tracie and I were in bed together and when Bianca and I were in bed together nobody else was there. Just us. All of the unresolved emotional trauma almost killed me, especially when I went on psychotropic meds. That is when I really lost it. What pulled me out is when another dear friend died March 8th 2011. That is when I stopped all those meds cold turkey. I wrote and recorded ―‗Til Death Do Us Part‖ while in a world of emotional storms. I honestly do not remember writing it and only remember a couple moments of recording it. So there you have them, the lows of that time period.
As far as highs, well, getting my shit together and coming full circle as a human, a father, a band member and friend is definitely a high for me. I love life today. I created a lot of havoc when I was in my emotional turmoil and I am so glad I didn‘t kill myself or anyone else for that matter. Also, being recognized by my peers is always as honor.
<CV SW> Were you ever at a point where you thought "hell with this, I'm going to throw in the towel"? Either way, what kept you going, moving forward, kept the fire in your eyes?
I directly credit Tracii Guns for putting the fire back in my heart and soul. I helped him finish a tour in 2011 for 13 gigs when his singer at the time quit LA Guns. I was finished with music. I‘d had it. I spent nearly $1,000,000 of my own money on Blacklist Union and got seriously burned by "friends" and so called "managers" and wasted ALOT of time with people who said they were booking agents and industry people. I had some girl I briefly dated out of Florida write some bad shit about me on the internet out of spite after she invested $6,000 in a company I had and I ended up losing the company.
Needless to say I was finished in more ways than one. I remember Tracii telling me "If you don‘t have haters you ain‘t shit". He along with Doni (the drummer) of LA Guns inspired me and told me that rock n roll NEEDS Blacklist Union and to continue my journey. It was the 11th hour. They pulled me back in and I will always be very grateful to Tracii. He truly gave me a chance despite my nasty reputation and despite all the haters. I am a lifer. I am in too deep to turn back now.
<CV SW> Who are your musical (or other) influences?
My personal vocal influences are Andrew Wood from Mother Love Bone, Kory Clark from Warrior Soul, Ian Astbury from the Cult and of course Layne Staley and Scott Weiland. Aerosmith and The Ramones are also very huge for me. But it was Andy
Wood that made me want to be a singer. I learned to sing to Mother Love Bone songs. Can‘t f‘n stand Pearl Jam but MLB is the shit.
<CV SW> When you guys were younger, was there any interest in other activities, or was music the end game always?
Baseball, rock-n-roll and children. That is it for me.
<CV SW> When did you first believe "yeah, we got this"?
Well, I always knew I had it in me. It took me a long time to become a great singer. Lots of practice, lots of people hating on me and telling me I sucked. I just kept going. I never listened to negative people.
<CV SW> What inspires you to write music, where do the lyrics come from?
My lyrics are all real experiences and life lessons. Nothing is contrived to sound cool or impress. Name a song and I can tell you what that experience is. That‘s how that is for me. Lyrics are therapeutic. It is all in there. Birth, death, addiction, recovery, my demise, winning, losing, love, resentment, mourning. You name it is in there.
<CV SW> I noticed that your voice changed with the mood of the song, do you write with a specific vocal sound in mind or does it just flow?
Each song has its own mark, just like a painting a picture or any other type of art. As soon as I hear a piece of music I usually hear a melody immediately in my head.
<CV SW> Where did the name come from, any cool story about how "Blacklist Union" came about?
I have one of the worst reputations in town. It has to do with one of two things: women or raising hell. I also have this promoter in LA who has tried to blacklist me from just about everywhere. That poor lady is so mean and nasty and most of the bands she works with use her and don‘t like her. Basically, I have been blacklisted in many places. But when I was growing up, I loved the outlaw rock singers - funny how I just so happen to be one. So Blacklist Union is a bunch
of guys with nasty reputations that can play their asses off and really are good adult men with the biggest hearts you can imagine.
<CV SW> What do you think the state of the LA music scene is right now?
The state of the music scene in LA is in just pathetic. There is no camaraderie in this town. Promoters don‘t care about talent and most of them make these young bands pay to play at their venues. Many legendary venues have completely lost their street cred. Promoters leave it up to the band to promote and bands leave it up to the promoters. In order to create a scene again we all have to work together and stop hating on each other. When I grew up in NYC in the punk rock/hardcore scene we all had each others‘ backs. In LA as soon as you turn your back people are talking shit. I don‘t even like going out anymore. Plus there are very few good bands right now.
<CV SW> How active do you try to be on Social Media? Do you think it's changed the game significantly? BLU has 7300 LIKEs on FB, but
who knows how many fans around the world, what do you guys see that Social Media has done for you even after becoming known around the world?
I think social media unfortunately is a necessary evil right now. I also think it has disabled live music in this country. However if you are a kick ass band people will find out about it sooner rather than later. If I wasn‘t in a band i wouldn‘t even be on Facebook.
<CV SW> Talk a bit about why you think Social Media has disabled live music – I understand that iTunes & ReverbNation have changed music distribution, but corresponding with your fans and getting gig info out surely has to be a benefit, no?
It has killed live music...everything is too accessible nowadays...there is no mystery like when I was a kid. Sure you can reach people across the globe but why are they gonna go to see live music when they can watch it on you tube or something else....just like the question ―why are people going to but full CD‘s when they can buy their favorite song on
iTunes‖?
<CV SW> Any particularly memorable shows come to mind?
We have had many memorable shows both negative and positive. The first time we played Jaxx in Fairfax, VA which is now called Empire, it was the first time I saw a crowd other than our home crowd sing the lyrics to our songs. I got choked up.
Then there was the show in Detroit, MI a few years ago when I got drugged right before I went on stage . That was a disaster.
<CV SW> Someone slipped you a mickey? What happened?
Ok, that show in Michigan. Well, we drove all night from DC to Detroit to do radio, press, and all that stuff and meet them on Friday for a festival at the Ritz. We got there, and it turned out none of the press or radio was happening (we got there around 1pm); they gave us our rider and paid us, and then we waited until they finally said we were on. I kept myself in control the entire day and was totally ok.
I told the band I was going to go say hello to some fans and press after they gave us the 15 minute heads up, and that‘s what I did – well, a couple of people bought me shots of Jager, but during the point of walking from the bar to the stage I got completely inebriated somehow! The band was hiding on the side of the stage, so I went up to the microphone and started paging them…and they were like ―PSST, we‘re over here‖ so I ran over there pretending as if the audience didn‘t see me and hid on the side of the stage too.
It was pretty much downhill from there, not to mention we got this drunken reputation pretty quickly. A few months later a notorious promoter booked us back at another venue, but we redeemed ourselves hard and well after the fiasco.
Roni Salami was a promoter who took us under his wing after all that BS went down – he‘s always done right by me and is an awesome guy.
<CV SW> What do you think is your greatest accomplishment to date?
Staying alive and staying together and pressing forward despite the current state of the music business.
<CV SW> I can’t let THAT comment pass by – what do you think is the “current state of the music business”?
The music business is a gigantic corporate machine, and much like our country, when it is given back to or taken back by the people everything will change. Number 1, people need to play their own instruments, and number 2, write and perform their own
songs. It seems like a gigantic marketing scheme to me...and right now everyone is talking about Smiley Harris (Miley Cyrus)...really? She is a trust fund baby who used her daddy‘s connections to get where she is...everyone with half a soul knows that. It‘s rampant in the industry…
<CV SW> "After the Mourning", your
first release, shot through the roof around the world. Talk about the immense success with your first offering, was it a surprise? I mean, everyone WANTS their music to become known, but wow, you guys had critics fawning over the album, and it's your first one. Were you expecting THAT much success with it?
Good music always gets out there, fans and critics recognize good music regardless of where it comes from. We are very grateful for all the gifts we have gotten. If you have no expectations everything is always a pleasant surprise.
<CV SW> People said that album really made your mark in the "rock n roll underground", but becoming known around the world, to us, isn't "underground" - did you really believe you were still under the radar even after that album? Yes, and I do believe we are still VERY much under the radar. We haven‘t started moving crazy amounts of units like Puddle of Mudd, Buckcherry, Saliva or any
relevant modern rock band yet. We have a strong vibe in the rock n roll underground but there are definitely millions of more fans of real rock n roll that have not heard us yet. We are looking for a solid management company and label with whom we can partner. We are a hard working band and want to work with people that have PROVEN track records and believe in the band as people and, of course, the music.
<CV SW> Following up with "Breakin' Bread with the Devil", the ride continued, the world loved that album and welcomed the band with open arms - 5 star ratings from music media, rapidly growing fan base - how do you feel you avoided the "sophomore jinx"?
We didn‘t change the formula. I wrote songs with someone else but kept the same formula. The guy we wrote the first cd with has serious drug issues and Yoko on his side. Poor bastard has no clue how to do anything. I pity the fool, like Mr T says.
<CV SW> What was “the formula”
that you didn’t change? Was it easy to stay true to it?
The formula is not compromising our artistic vision and integrity. Chris Johnson, our producer, is great at letting us be ourselves and bringing out the best in us...but also bringing out who WE are, not who anyone thinks we should be.
<CV SW> “'Til Death Do Us Part" seems to be really a sort of collaboration with an incredible group of musicians and writers - SALIVA, Hunt Sales, co-writing with Anthony Valli, Mark Fain & Carmine D'Amico - those old hands too - tell us how that came about. Talk about the experience of working with those heavy hitters on the album.
It was an absolute honor working with Hunt Sales. He is one of my heroes and has the best road stories ever. The dude played with Bowie and Iggy and is older than my Dad and WAY cooler. As far as Mark Fain, we had a great vibe writing songs together but his ego is definitely not his amigo. That is gonna be the last thing we ever do together. Carmine and Anthony are
great friends of mine. I love them like brothers and of course Carmine is in the band. We also had Jon E Love, who played in LOVE/ HATE, do all the leads on the newest cd.
<CV SW> Michael Rand, from Independent Music Promotions, called your album "...a moving and elegiac artistic statement from start to finish." Have you ever described your music as "elegiac"?
Honestly no. In fact I have no idea wtf that means but it sure does sound good doesn‘t it?
<CV SW> “Elegiac” – compositions that have a mournful or sorrowful expression. Does that sound like BLU?
Hmm sounds more like Alice in Chains then Blacklist Union...but there is a lot of that in the music for sure...also, there is also lots of joy and happiness, keep that in mind, it‘s not all ―doom and gloom‖.
<CV SW> Beowulfproductions.com said this about you" I dig bands that kind of go in their own direction and take something that sounds familiar and add their own twists to create their own sound and make it theirs." How do you feel you make it BLU's personal statement?
It‘s our personal vibe, our personal artistry. Everyone has their own sound just like everyone‘s fingerprints are different and everyone‘s voice is different. It is the same producers and the same people that make bands sound the same.
<CV SW> Enrico Navella of New Noise/Italy said "..(BLU)... is the most exciting, vicious and unsafe rock-n-roll since “Appetite For Destruction" - how does that make the band feel? Those are some pret-
ty big shoes to fill!
I know Slash, Duff and Steven Adler and I have told them all ―Appetite‖ ruined my life. I got some funny reactions especially from Duff. Of course I told them I was kidding. But in all seriousness I believe that statement to be true. I am glad somebody FINALLY gets it. We are gonna be the next big rock band to set the world on fire. I can GUARANTEE you that.
<CV SW> What was it about Appetite for Destruction that you say “ruined your life”?
Well, when I was 11 years old I heard ―Appetite‖ and knew then and there what I was doing with my life and where I was gonna move as soon as I could. I ran away to Hollywood at 13 in 1989 and never looked back. And here I am today…
<CV SW> After all these years, all your success, how to you keep motivated? Does it get any easier to stay on top?
I just do what I have always done. I keep it real and keep my feet on the ground. I‘ve seen firsthand what happens when you believe your own hype. You lose it all is what happens. Just look at all these 80's rock bands that think they‘re too cool for school.
<CV SW> Okay, it's just past halfway through 2013, what's in store for BLU this year? Any big plans for 2014 yet?
Were just gonna be touring our asses off ‗til the end of the year. I am also in the process of writing the follow up to ―Til Death Do Us Part‖ which will be released in 2014. It will be called "In This Moment".
DevilDriver, for the last decade, has been that band to destroy you in the live setting and always had a monster record to back that up and with Winter Kills, they have upped the ante. Winter Kills is a nasty piece of work and if it does not crush you upon first listen, you are deaf. Dez Fafara took the time to give you, the fans, a disturbing view into his mind with this exclusive to Metal Exiles.
By Jeffrey Easton
Metal Exiles: With your new album Winter Kills about to drop how does it feel to be Dez right now?
Dez Fafara: I am having the time of my now, just hanging out with my family. We put a lot of hard work into this record and it is a full-on groover. It has a lot of special moments and it is the most cohesive record we have done, every song flows.
Metal Exiles: You have been busy with family health issues as well as touring with Coal Chamber, how easy was it to get refocused on DevilDriver?
Dez: I was only with Coal Chamber all in all for about three months with the dates that we did so it did not affect me at all since it was my off time from DD. The band has been writing for a while and I have been writing off and on for a year and a half so I was really prepared when I got the demos.
Metal Exiles: Everything I read on you refers to DevilDriver as groove oriented metal but I think your sound is more ferocious than that but with melody. How does DevilDriver balance the ferocity with the melody that turns up in the music?
Dez: I think we are definitely the square peg in the round hole as you cannot fit us into these genres that are happening now. Long ago our fans started referring us to the California Groove Machine and I accepted that title because nobody else is referred to as that. We always have a form of melody with, as you said, ferociousness and it is important to try to balance the two. This record has a lot of tight arrangements as we really got down and concentrated on the song writing as we wanted the hooks and choruses to
stand out. The way we balance it is that we make sure the arrangements are tight and every song had a special momentum.
Metal Exiles: I read the bio on Winter Kills and one of the things that stood out is that you’re fascinated with the dying off and rebirth of things. What fascinates your about that?
Dez: I love that, I have no idea why. Right now its approaching Fall and Winter and things are going to be dying off. I also like to start new things like business’s and bands, travel to new places; otherwise life becomes stagnant.
Metal Exiles: With the title Winter Kills, the theme is very dark. What made you want to take this mental route?
Dez: We wrote and recorded during the winter time and technically we are releasing in the winter time
since it is almost fall and you will be listening to it during the winter months. A lot of the lyrics involve reconditioning yourself to a higher level and taking your life to the next stage so that title really stood out to me. We needed a title track as well and that just stood out to me.
Metal Exiles: What points to a rebirth for you?
Dez: You have to take the lyrics for what they are and I am always that guy who will crack open the door and show you a little bit of light so sometimes you have to point out the negative to do that. If you take the lyrics and really look into them you will see those places. The record as a cohesive whole really points to that. The band has a new label with Napalm and a new bass player, Chris Towning, so it really is a rebirth for us. This is our sixth record and we really found out who we are and what we do best with our sound. We have five different records with different sounds but to me Winter Kills really captures who we are.
Metal Exiles: I know that Desperate Times was written around the time of your sister’s Cancer diagnosis. How is she doing now?
Dez: It was written around that as well as some other things. She is doing ok but that song title and the lyrics reflect the desperate times we go through to get to the positive times.
Metal Exiles: What else in your life was pushing the songs, like Curses And Epitaphs?
Dez: Everything in life can be that, a curse or an epitaph. At one point things end and begin and if you really go into the lyrics you will see that it speaks of people in my past. Friends that take you down the wrong path or business people that are not really with it, so you have to really wake up and clean house.
Metal Exiles: I know you like being home with your family so you recorded your vocals at home. What was that like as opposed to going to a studio?
Dez: You find yourself thinking that if you displace yourself , putting yourself in the odd place out, making yourself uncomfortable will give you a feel that metal needs but for me that’s not the case. I was getting to a point that I was saying “ok, I got four more songs and I can go home. I did not want to do that, I did not think the listeners deserved that nor the art. I was just done with being gone for months on end just to record a record. So I put a vocal booth downstairs and I think it added a lot to the feel of the record. The clock wasn’t ticking; we got a lot of the
tracks on the first take and if I wasn’t feeling it that day we could just call it quits. It made me feel more comfortable while recording because I was in a state I created. It was very moody, no direct lighting on me and I think that lent to the attitude of the record.
Metal Exiles: Usually a producer will not go along with that but you did bring Mark Lewis back. Was he down with flying out and doing this with you?
Dez: At this point I am only going to work the way I want to work obviously but he had a great time here, he loves California. He was very professional and he loved the studio I set up, it had a great vibe.
Metal Exiles: Your albums with him sound amazing. What does he bring that you guys would not be able to do by yourselves?
Dez: He does not try to become the sixth member and he does not try to take it in a different direction. He just tries to get the best out of you. I know he gets the best out of the instruments but with me I need someone who is on and can work fast. When I am working I am working. I want to get take after take, I don’t want someone outside the glass analyzing the lyric because it is not written by him, for him or to him, I want someone who can punch me in and out and get it done. Mark Lewis is the person to get that done for me.
Metal Exiles: Some producers want to be involved in every aspect of the band and recording, why do you think they want that control?
Dez: A lot of producers have that ability but they are often working with young bands that need that, some who can fix their songs but in our case we do not need that.
Metal Exiles: I know you have a positive nature but most perceive metal as negative. What is the
best way that Dez can put it out there that DevilDriver has a more positive message?
Dez: Nobody does dark like me, if you wanted to find a dark soul on the planet you are looking at him, which is why I am always trying to look into the light. What I do in an essence is that door you are afraid to look into, that room your afraid to go into, I crack it open so you can look through it with my lyrics. If anything, metal was the place I could go to when I was younger an my parents were fighting and going through a divorce, metal was the thing in that place I could go to. I want to have that band that is there for you.
Metal Exiles: I know what’s that like, when I was a kid my parents divorced so I had KISS.
Dez: There you go. Music was always that place for me and if we can exist for someone then wonderful.
Metal Exiles: Napalm is putting this record and to me they have always been this underground label dealing in amazing music. Do you think DevilDriver is going to be that band to take them to a wider audience?
Dez: Who knows, but as far as a working partnership so far things have been amazing. We will find out see not this Tuesday but the next when the num-
"PREPARING YOU FOR GREATNESS"
bers come in. We have done our job as a band, they have done theirs a label so it is up to the fans to go buy the record. I would like to think we are raising the flag and trying to be that flagship band for Napalm, especially in the U.S., and if it works out I would like to work with them again.
Metal Exiles: You have a lot going on with the release of Winter Kills. What is the touring going to be like?
Dez: We have the co-headlining tour with Trivium this fall and after Christmas we are going to do Soundwave in Australia which is always amazing. There will be a lot of touring for this album; we will break records with this tour.
DevilDriver is always a force to be reckoned with, and with the release of Winter Kills it only gets deadlier.
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Information on riding your motorcycle in the rain...
It's 8am in the morning and you peer out your kitchen window. Although the weatherman on TV had announced the night before that clear skies were in today's forecast, dark grey rain clouds are looming in the distance. While sipping on your morning cup-a -joe, you try to estimate just how soon they'll be hovering over your home and contemplate thoughts to yourself such as, ―If I leave now, maybe, just maybe I'll be able to make it in to work without getting wet.‖ After all, that shiny bike of yours, sitting in the garage all night, is just begging you to take it for another spin. You glance back up at the clouds and decide that yet again, you will chance it and ride on into work. In case luck is not on your side, here are some tips on how to prepare for riding in the rain and to keep yourself as dry and as safe as possible without having to succumb to driving to work in a cage. Let's begin!
Gear
In an ideal situation, you'll have invested in some all weather riding gear including waterproof boots and if that's the case then good for you! The minimum investment you should have on hand when it comes to rain gear is waterproof gloves that fasten securely around your wrist. Not only do gloves keep your hands dry during a rainstorm, but they'll also
help keep them warm too. Another option is purchasing a rain suit to wear over your leathers if you don't have all weather gear. Waterproof your boots prior to riding in the rain as an extra precaution. However if you still don't want to spend a few extra dollars on a rain suit and waterproofing boot spray, then another, albeit low-cost option is to wear a couple of large trash bags over your clothing and plastic grocery bags inside your boots wrapped around your socks to help with rain-proofing yourself. Riding in the rain is not fun, but it's even worse if you get soaked.
Tires
Tires with a good tread pattern on them are the safest type to use when it's raining. This is because, there's more rubber to grip the slippery road. Still, even with decent tread on the tires, pushing your twowheeler to the limits in the rain, be it a drizzle or a downpour, is not advised unless you want to hydroplane or worse yet, lay your bike down in front of oncoming traffic.
Wait
Oil and grease on the road tends to loosen up and sit on the surface during the start of the rain, so allow a solid 15 minutes or so for cars to splash the excess muck off onto the side of the street. Otherwise, you're just asking for trouble!
What to Avoid
Steer clear of the painted lines on streets and hi -ways because they become extremely slick when wet. Common sense should encourage you to ride in the path of the tire trails left by vehicles in front of you since it will be the area on the road with the least amount of water on it. Manhole covers and railroad tracks are very slick when wet too. Avoid them if at all possible, but if you must cross over them, heed with caution keeping a steady throttle.
Visor Care
To help eliminate rain from building up on your visor and impairing your vision, there are a few products on the market you can apply prior to riding such as Rain-X. This product and products like it encourage the water to roll and bounce right off of the visor. Your visor may also indeed become foggy while riding in the rain and although there are products on the market to help prevent that too, just cracking your visor open a smidge every now and again will help quickly eliminate this problem.
There are always those rare occasion that may sneak up on you and leave you in a compromising situation. Be prepared and alert so that you'll still be around to ride on future dry weather days as well!
I got this kit only a few months ago and I absolutely love it! I always wanted a white drum kit with all black hardware. I think it looks simple, but classy. I used to play on a Midnight Blue Tama Imperial Star with the same set up, but instead of Zildjian cymbals, I used Meinl.
I have a Pearl Vision in Custom white with black hardware and all Birch shells.
Drums
12" Rack Tom 16" Floor Tom,
22" Bass Drum 14" Snare Drum
Cymbals
Zildjian A 20" Medium Ride
Zildjian A 18" Medium Thin Crash
Zildjian A 16" Medium Thin Crash
Zildjian A 14" New Beat Hi Hats
Hardware
Sound Percussion Boom Stand
Sound Percussion Straight Stand
Tama Stands
Drumsticks
Vic Firth 5B American Classic Wood Tip
Gear the Pros Use!
I started playing guitar when I was 10 and I've been singing my whole life. I have a wide range of influences from Rush, Heart, and Joan Jett all the way to Frank Sinatra, Alanis Morissette and Johnny Cash. I've always loved music and feel very blessed to be part of the local music community. Being able to network and play with a large variety of different musicians has definitely made me a better player overall. I've been lucky enough to, at a young age, discover what type of gear I like and what I don't like. There are a few things that I will continue to research to find the perfect fit. At the moment, I'm very happy with what I have so far.
Guitars
Epiphone Les Paul Standard Royale ~ My very first guitar was an Epiphone Les Paul and I haven't played anything else since. I love the warm tone of these guitars and I've always felt a special connection with them. The Royale is a beautiful guitar. Mahogony body, Pearl White finish with gold sparkle binding, gold pickguard and Classic Humbuckers. The first time I played this guitar, I knew it was meant to be. The warmth came through immediately and it was everything a Les Paul should be.
Epiphone Les Paul Custom Silverburst ~ Again, amazing instrument. At first glance, the finish is what initially sold me on this one. The silverburst color looked so edgy yet classy and elegant at the same time. Although it is my backup, I consider it my "little black dress" guitar. There is never a bad time to pull this out. It never disappoints. The sound of a Les Paul is something that I will love forever. I have yet to come across anything that compares.
Pedal Board/ Effects
I have had my BOSS BCB-60 board for many years. I don't use very many effects as a rhythm player so this board has just enough room for what I need. I use a Planet Waves strobe tuner, Danelectro FAB Flange and Chorus and a BOSS Overdrive/Distortion.
Amps
Currently I'm running through a Single Channel Jet City JCA20h head with an Epiphone 4x12 cabinet. A friend turned me on to the Jet City head after an old head of mine burned out. I wasn't too sure about using a brand I'd never really
Grit and gristle and big rockmelodiescome aliveinthemusicof Loud Angel. Feisty femaleenergytangles withabigpartyvibeof raucoushard-rockguitar-drivenoriginalsand classics! FeaturingJohnnyMetalandJoieeKallay astheLoud&theAngel...
<CV WW> Alright, you know the drill, tell us who’s in the band, and their role.
<CV WW> How long as each member been in Loud Angel?
Joiee has been in for almost 2 years now – she‘s a great asset, great singer, and has a wide range of vocals that really work well with our music. Mickey has been playing with us for about 18 months now. Tommy, on the other hand, has been with the band since 2006 – he left the band for a few years to explore other creative music endeavors, but our interim drummer (name withheld) was all hyped up on drugs, not a good scene, so we replaced him with Tommy.
<CV WW> Did he miss you guys?
Yeah, he said he missed playing with us, he admitted that Loud Angel always felt like home, so he‘s back – that guy is like my brother!
Loud Angel welcomeslisteners toonebigROCK-nROLLPARTYeverywheretheyplay!Enteraworldwhereyou playashardasyoucan beforeyoufinallycrash, usuallyrightbeforethe sun comes up! Go see them,survivetheirshow, ifyoucan...
<CV WW> Johnny, you formed the band in 1990, originally as a cover band - can we assume "80's hair metal”?
Yes, we were definitely 80‘s hair band for several years, A&R Records noticed us and what we were doing and lent us a hand with shows and such, but in the late 90‘s Back Street Records came and made us an offer, which we signed, so that we could tour again
<CV WW> What songs were you covering at the time?
Well, the cream of the 80‘s hair metal bands – Ozzy, Skid Row, Poison, RATT, etc (too many to really mention, the list is long) –but we were also playing originals from our 1st CD called ―Living Dangerous‖. So it was a mix of music.
<CV WW> At that point, what were you really hoping to accomplish?
You know, at that point we were just digging our fans coming out and enjoying our music and our dream – but the goal of Loud Angel has always been to be a house-
hold name! Making a name for ourselves really came easy with the music and shows at that time – but covers were, for us, a cheap fix and a temporary direction That entire time, I was writing new original music in our motels rooms during our down time.
<CV WW> At what point did you make the decision to transform from a cover to original band? This occurred in 1997, when we had traveled the East Coast and
did shows all up and down the coast.
The summer of 1997 was a bit of a blur for us – too much partying while on the road. J Well, we knew we were popular and had made a name for ourselves at that time, fans were showing up everywhere we played – they were asking for our tried and true covers, but also for original songs too – so we tried to mix in about 10 or so originals in our cover set; as it turns out, the more we played originals, the more the bars seemed to fills up night after night – at that point, well, it‘s pretty much a nobrainer to go in that direction.
<CV WW> Tell the story of LA’s journey to right here, to this lineup – the original Loud Angel group broke up, but you put it together again, tell us that story.
Loud Angel started out as a five piece rock band back in the day – we played everywhere we could, we didn‘t turn away any shows no matter what, since early on you‘re building a brand and following, we played all the time –but we had some internal problems with our original rhythm guitarist. He was partying way too much , he was starting volume wars with the female singer, it was cutting down the good dynamics of the band. I love him like a brother, which made it hard to let him go, but I wanted the musical challenge by myself so he stepped down. The band started out in MA but when Back Street Records got involved, they moved mve from my home town of East Hampton, MA to Hartford, CT. There were some changes, I had a lot of growing pains during that time, life threw me a few comers until I found my
guys and gal – I just had to be patient until I found the perfect crew.
<CV WW> You’ve had some challenges in the last couple of years, tell us about those.
Well, first thing was that I suffered a minor stroke – I recovered, but it took about 5 months of hard work to get back to 100% - no issues now though. Shortly after that, as we were gearing up to tour, our original singer‘s daughter was killed in a car crash – her infant daughter survived the accident, but Wendy had to leave the band to raise the child. Those were awful events, but we were able to get past them; we recruited Joie to be our new singer, then stepped back into the studio to record with our guns fully loaded.
<CV WW> Tell us what you think it is about THIS lineup that works so well...
I can tell you that the members in the band right now really have our heads on straight, and we
see the common goal, we understand that this is for our fans, and that we have to put out the best rock music and not just a simple show but one with very high energy! We are constantly improving our music and theatrics. It‘s all about making sure the fans get their money‘s worth at a Loud Angel show.
<CV WW> Joiee's got a pretty powerful voice, what led you to the decision to have a female singer?
It‘s always been my thought to use that niche – let‘s face it, sex & sexy sells, and who doesn‘t want a hot woman sing her ass off and rock yours off with shredding guitars, ass-kicking drums, and a bottom bass full of thunder?
<CV WW> Early on, in 1999, you were nominated in the Hartford Advocate as "Best Cover Band"Hartford, CT?
It was cool to win that award after having been moved to Hartford…but after we finished some touring, I decided to bring the band south to FL, where we are based now.
<CV WW> Let’s talk about your album releases…
Okay, the 1st CD was called ―Living Dangerous, it was recorded in Hartford with Back Street Records at their headquarters there in CT. With that release we toured to support, and even had an opportunity to tour overseas, which was cool.
Back Street Records as a record company went under, and suddenly we were in search of a label but it didn‘t stop us from forging ahead with our shows and such until A&R Records stepped in and supported us for about 6 years.
We got a new manager, Rebecca Firstenfeld, who is still with us today, and went on to release ―Demons in the Dark‖ around 2004 – that was the time we won an endorsement from Harley Davidson, which was cool as hell.
―Sanity‖ came out in 2009 to much success – at that point, Dynasty Records made us an offer, but we respectfully declined and went on to open our own label (Sanity Records) shortly after that – ―Sanity‖ was on both the national and global music charts, we were in the top 4-8 slots for over 18 months, it was crazy! We toured to support the album – well, I had always wanted a double live CD, so we recorded one of our live shows – it totally rocked, and it‘s on YouTube. Incidentally, the song ―Bastard‖ from ―Sanity‖ got us nominated in Spin Magazine and as a single was played on over 4,000 radio stations worldwide, without any record company assistance – which is significant if you know the music business. It‘s flattering, our albums have been sold all over the world.
<CV WW> Who are your musical (or other) influences?
I think we‘d all agree that KISS is a big influence on nearly everyone from the 80‘s, especially for us. Ozzy is another big influence – for a female fronted band, of course Joan Jett & Pat Benatar, Lita Ford too. I‘m good friends with Ricky Byrd too, he‘s been an influence to me as well.
<CV WW> Did any of you have any other interests growing up?
Honestly, not really. We all knew at a young age we wanted to be rock stars. For me, I got my first Strat at the age of 12 – 6 months prior to that, my cousin, who was a sound engineer for KISS, called me and told me that he got me a ticket to meet the boys in the band. So later I find myself standing in the elevator with Paul, Gene, Ace, & Peter, in Springfield, MA, they‘ve got 2 hot metal babes with them, mini-skirts hiked up; I was sold for life.
<CV WW> What inspires you to write music, where do the lyrics come from?
Well, we understand that it‘s a tough industry, and our music comes from the heat and life‘s experience, but we‘re able to write, record, and present the music in a form that people like, that sells to music fans. Ultimately, we want our lyrics to be memorable.
<CV WW> Where did the name come from, any cool story about how “Loud Angel” came about?
<JOHNNY> Heh. I was a huge biker at heart, and we released the first CD at the Hell‘s Angels Chapter in CT to a crazy crowd, it was a very cool show – as a kid, I was fascinated with the Hell‘s Angels too. I also did things in life that helped take negatives and turn them into positives, it‘s kind of God‘s way of turning evil to good, I guess. Loud Angel just seemed appropriate a name for my band.
<CV WW> How active do you try to be on Social Media?
We try to be very active. Our fans are like the heart of a human, they pump the musical blood through our veins, we try to engage them via Social Media and in person too; after all, our fans are our life, this is for them. We also try to be active in the local community to help good causes.
<CV WW> Do you think it's changed the game significantly? Definitely. It‘s a blessing in most ways, and it allows us to get closer to our fans and reach more of them – we measure success one fan at a time, and to be able to reach out them pretty much anytime via Social Media is great.
<CV WW> What opportunities has it opened up for Loud Angel that you don't think you had before?
Well, it allows pretty much the whole world to get our music if they want – since our music was and is still played overseas, it allows our national and international fans to share their thoughts, comments, and opinions with us and each other. It‘s also easier to expand our number of fans as Social Media allows them to interact much more easily.
Another show was in Deland, FL – at their Delandapalooza Festival, they shut down the entire city for the festival, and the main street was packed with Loud Angel fans just screaming. Nuts, but in a cool way.
<CV WW> What do you want your fans/the audience to think & feel when they are at a LA show?
Like many bands we want our fans to get lost in the music, in the show, forget about day to day
<CV WW> Any particularly memorable shows come to mind?
Oh yeah. We played a show in New Britain, CT to a sold out club – 3,200 people were at that show! I drove my Harley on stage, doing a wheelie all the way up the ramp with our lead singer, it was KILLER to watch the crowd almost incite a riot with enthusiasm. I was cranking the music, and one fan grabbed our singer‘s shirt and actually almost tore it off. Good times.
life, and just cut loose and party; we want them to get lost in the emotions of our music and just relax and enjoy.
<CV WW> What do you think is your greatest accomplishment to date?
You know, there‘s a lot to being a ―charted‖ band and selling out shows all the time – it‘s an accomplishment to keep that going through the years. We did a show in Fort Lauderdale in 2011, sold out 1,000 tickets in an hour!
I don‘t feel like we‘re bragging, we‘re just telling it how it is; Loud Angel has opened for many big acts through the years, it has really been a dream come true. Even today, we step on stage with the mindset to conquer every show; the band just loves our fans.
<CV WW> Loud Angel received the "Harley Davidson Letter of Recommendation" from Space Coast HD - tell us how that came about. That show was one for the books. It actually took place in a Battle of the Bands with over 200 regional bands, and Loud Angel came out on top – so that ―Letter of Recommendation‖ was an endorsement from the boys at Space Coast HD, they really liked us a lot – they even roped off an area to have a Loud Angel photo shoot. There was a ton of press there and fans, it was great.
<CV WW> How do awards like that validate all your hard work? I mean, Brevard County Florida...Loud Angel is chosen as "Best Biker Band" - how cool is that?
You know, it gives you a great sense of self-esteem to win a Battle of the Bands against such great people. It was also great to realize how much an organization like Harley Davidson got behind us; they were very impressed with us, and also sold a ton more merchandise than originally expected. I think they sold more merch than beer! They also sold 8 bikes that day, so they did pretty good, you can do that math. J It‘s also some pressure and motivation to repeat success like that and to keep it going forward.
Another interesting fact about that show is Tommy almost
caused a riot because he was throwing out Loud Angel t-shirts from the stage, and people were going crazy trying to get one!
<CV WW> After all these years, nearly 25 of them rocking anywhere and everywhere, how do you stay motivated?
Well, we try to stay in shape and take care of ourselves physically so we can still perform – also, we continue to receive incredible support from our fans, they really provide us with motivation, we never want to let them down.
<CV WW> With your success, you've probably earned the right to rest on your laurels on some warm beach with a cold beer - what keeps you going?
<JOHNNY> You know, we love to tour and see our fans; we love them dearly and always promise to do bigger and better shows, and take it to the fullest to keep them happy and excited about seeing Loud Angel in concert.
<TOMMY> I have to say, it‘s a great feeling and motivates to continue to perform when you sneak into a grocery store and a bunch of high school kids run up to you and ask for autographs. High school kids!
<CV WW> Hmm, maybe kids of your original fans? LOL
HaHa – not funny. But maybe – it‘s the next generation of Loud Angel fans, and we always stop to talk to them, to inspire them to work hard to accomplish the things they want to in life, to give back to them with positivity. We‘ve been doing this long enough to talk to kids about success and perseverance, to tell them that it
can happen for them if they make the effort.
<CV WW> What do you think it is about Loud Angel that sets you guys apart from any other bands, that makes you unique?
Our music continues to be relevant and popular with the crowds – we stay commercially viable for venues, and we give credit where it is due. Joie is a remarkable singer and a great stage presence. Johnny Metal is a shredder extraordinaire, a legend. Tommy is just an animal back there banging on his kit, and with thunder like Mickey, you can‘t go wrong. We have a great lineup, what we offer fans and people who attend our shows is very well received and has always been.
<CV WW> Tell us about the "Loud Angel Bus". :)
Well, Johnny has been a long time auto mechanic, he loves to restore old cars, he has quite a collection of automobiles he‘s restored over the years. He bought the bus and customized it all out –it has TV‘s, beds, computers, and skulls that light up with red lasers. With his ability to fix it up, it was easy to use the bus for the band when we tour – it saves us a lot of money, and it‘s a rolling billboard for the sponsors. It also has a lift gate for the road crew to make it easier on them to move the gear –the really appreciate that part.
<CV WW> You list your record label as "independent", does that mean you do all your own work?
Yes but we outsource some of the load to share the wealth, so to speak, to give back to others. But we do have our own label called Sanity Records, yes.
<CV WW> Johnny, tell us, do you still play the "finntar"?
<JOHNNY> Yes, it‘s a wild guitar, a very explosive instrument – here is their contact; fintarguitar@gmail.com
<CV WW> Tell us about it.
<JOHNNY> Well, I was approached in the mid 1990‘s by a company called ―Fintar‖ – the owner of the company has been to many of my shows and we got to be pretty good friends – he asked me what he could do with a guitar, if I had any ideas, so the night before I played a sold out show I was so pumped up I told him to make the guitar light up and get smoke to come out the tail pipe. He liked the idea so much Fintar asked to endorse me – the very next day I played in Boston, in a huge arena, and I detonated the pyro from the back of the guitar neck (by the way, I LOVE playing with pyrotechnics in my guitar)! I love to do stuff like that, crazy stuff, it‘s just my style, the way I live life; I‘ve always said ―if you can‘t go big or go all the way, then just go home.
Well, next thing I know the media is all over me, they had my face plastered in all the papers all the way back to CT, and I got a call from guitar player magazine. Great stuff. I‘ve been recently working on Fintar‘s Ltd new guitar called the V-Twin; we are talking with certain members of HarleyDavidson on this new idea – it‘s a flying V guitar with a V-Twin engine mounted on it! Can it get any cooler than that? LOL
<CV WW> Okay, it's just past halfway through 2013, what's in store for LA this year - rumor has it you are releasing a new album, what can you tell us about it?
Yes – we are working on a new CD called ―Out Guns are Loaded‖ that has over 13 songs. It‘s armed with AC/DC-like screaming guitar licks, Joie is really going to show you what the word ―range‖ means for a singer on this CD. It‘s a ball bustin‘ CD filled with dynamite drumming, thick bass lines, and Joie bringing this CD to the cutting edge of hard rock. This CD has meaning for us overall – after what we‘ve been through, we always have more bullets in our guns for music, shows, and touring.
<CV WW> Where will you support this CD with tour dates?
We are going to tour first up the East coast to Canada, then we are going out west. They tell me we‘ll be heading overseas as well; that would be killer.
<CV WW> When do you start?
We start September 14th at the Sports Page, then ride off into the future. Also, we‘re working on taking part in a HUGE outdoor show, they think 30,000 some-odd people will be in attendance, playing with Great White, Slaughter, LA Guns, and Warrant. We‘ll be in Deland, FL on November 2nd , just to mention another important show.
<CV WW> Sounds like the life… It is, we love it. Also, Loud Angel will be coming out with an autobiography after the tour starts – hopefully it‘ll be an interesting read, it‘ll begin with Johnny‘s childhood…
LISTEN to them @ http://www.reverbnation.com/loudangel
Special Guest Photographer June Figueroa gives
THIRDEYEBLIND
14 Tips to Avoid Purchasing a Lemon
Now is a tough time to buy a used car. The sluggish economy and ever-rising cost of new cars and trucks compel people to hang onto the cars they already own. As a result, used-car inventories are tight, and more of the vehicles for sale are either damaged goods or plain worn out. Drivers who need to or want to buy a good pre-owned vehicle today need to keep a sharp eye out for lemons on the lot and clunkers in the classifieds. Here are 14 tips to help you make a good used-car choice.
Check Title History
Jot down the vehicle identification number, or VIN, and use it to buy a title history report from a private company such as CarFax or AutoCheck. The report will indicate where the vehicle was previously titled and how it was registered as a personal car, taxi, rental car or fleet vehicle, for example. It will reveal whether the title has been marked as salvaged or flood-damaged, if the vehicle was ever recalled, and more. Ask to see the actual title for the vehicle, compare its VIN to the one on the car, make sure it is in the seller's name and that it does not indicate any liens.
Beware Flood States
Keep a sharp eye out for vehicles that may have been damaged in floods or any other natural disaster. One red flag is a title search that reveals the car has come from a state affected by flooding. Though a vehicle may have been auctioned for salvage with a title branded "flood damaged" by an insurance carrier, it may be moved around the country and retitled in several states to "wash" the title before it is finally resold. A new government database intended to track salvaged and flood-damaged vehicles is being implemented.
Be a Flood-Damage Detective
If floodwater has been inside a car, it's almost
certain that there will be problems down the road, from corrosion on electrical connections and airbag sensors to a failed transmission or moldy upholstery. A funky smell in the cabin is a bad sign. Lift up the carpets and look for silt. Check for a dirty waterline in the trunk or engine compartment, or signs of silt in the headlamps or other lights. If you suspect the car has been flooded, walk away, quickly.
Pay for a Mechanical Inspection
Have your mechanic thoroughly inspect any car you're considering. Some dealers may object to this, but it should not be an issue if you are buying from a private party. Make it the last point of negotiation, and offer the owner a modest gratuity. Your mechanic should inspect all systems and put the car on a lift to check for signs of underbody damage that could indicate a collision. A good inspection will reveal how well the car has been maintained and whether you can expect a big bill for brake work or exhaust repair in the near future, which could become a point of negotiation on the final price.
View Service Records
Ask the seller for service receipts or even the computerized service record from a dealer if service was performed there. Look to see if the oil was
changed on schedule and if major maintenance such as a timing-belt replacement was completed.
Reputation Matters
Some cars were lemons when they were new. You can check on the reputation of a specific model of car or truck at several levels. J.D. Power and Associatesoffers quality ratings, the National Highway Traffic Safety Administration issues reports on recalls and safety issues, and Consumer Reports offers comprehensive ratings of vehicles' quality and repair frequency. Finally, you can do a simple Internet search and check consumer reviews of any popular vehicle. Consistent negative reviews by owners are not a good sign.
Daylight Inspections Only
Never rely on an inspection made at night, or with the car in a dark garage. Roll it out in the sunlight and you'll get a much better look at imperfections in the body and the interior.
Look for Overspray
A mist of paint overspray visible in the wheelwells, or on trim that was poorly masked, can indicate bodywork was recently completed or that the car was repainted, perhaps to cover damage or rust. Sight down the length of the body and look for ripples or waves in the sheet metal where bodywork was done. Ask for an explanation about any paint jobs or body repair.
Ask about oil
Scheduled oil changes are about the only regular service a modern vehicle requires, but it's also critical to the life and reliability of the engine. Ask the seller if there's a record of oil changes. Look for a maintenance sticker on the windshield that might indicate the last service date. Check the oil level in the engine. If it's low, or if the oil looks unusually dark and dirty, the owner probably has not been paying attention to maintenance. Look at other fluid levels located under the hood. If the coolant tank is low or the antifreeze looks dark and dirty, they're bad signs indicating you should look for a different vehicle.
Telltale Tires
Uneven wear on the tires and "cupping" a series of indentations in the tire tread can indicate
neglected alignment, worn-out suspension components or even a chassis that's off-kilter after a wreck. Check the air pressure in all tires. Pressure that's uneven or low all around is another indication of sloppy maintenance. Also look for a matched set of tires. If one tire is a different brand or style, it may have been replaced after a wreck.
Avoid modifications
Be wary of a car or truck rigged with a lot of aftermarket accessories, especially those designed to improve performance. Oversized tires, loud exhaust and a modified intake system are signs that the car may have been driven "with excess enthusiasm."
Emissions compliance
Make sure that the car's emissions certification is up-to-date if you live in a state or region that requires regular testing. If the car can't pass an emissions test, you may not be able to title or register it without making costly repairs.
No 'granny' cars
You do not want a car that was only driven five blocks to church on Sunday. It may look pristine and have very low mileage, but short trips are the most brutal duty an engine sees. Engineers call this the "granny cycle," because the oil never gets hot enough to boil off condensation that naturally forms on start-up. Very acidic moisture can collect in the engine and eventually lead to trouble, especially if the oil is changed infrequently which is likely, because granny didn't drive much. Keep looking.
Take a test drive
Get the car out on the highway to get it up to operating temperature and drive it at speed. Cruise on city streets, too. Try accelerating up a hill or a freeway ramp. Be aware of vibrations in the steering, pulsing in the brakes or clunking sounds from the suspension. Does the transmission shift smoothly? Are there any ticking sounds from the engine that could indicate valve issues? After the drive, pop the hood and look for leaking fluids, smoke or steam, or a gassy smell.
Veteran moto-journalist and Wisconsin-native Charles Plueddeman has been driving, riding and testingallmannerofvehiclesformorethan20years.
Club Fortune Casino hosted it‘s 3rd Battle of the Bands, bringing the local music scene back down to Henderson for consecutive weeks of multiple bands, cheap drinks and full showrooms. Stay tuned for results of the Saturday contests.
The boys from Dirty Pair-A-Dice & Heavy Honey both took the House of Blues stage and had the crowd begging for more. When multiple ―Who The F*ck Is London Mace‖ shirts are seen in the crowd, you know that some magic is about to happen. When these two acts are on the same bill anywhere, you‘re hard pressed to find a worthy show to compete.
Outta The Black took things up yet another level, playing back-to-back weekends and debuting yet another original song while opening for Jizzy Pearl and Love/Hate. I believe the boys in black are trying to say something!
The gorgeous girls of Brazen rocked Vamp‘d with Vinyl Tattoo and had every guy in the place drooling at the sight. If you haven't seen these hot rocking ladies, you better get your ass out to their next show, they will blow you away. The Gold Mine down in Henderson is still trying to bring the local scene down Hendertucky's way, bringing back Jimmy Hicks and his group Kill Jimi. This group used to rock the old Tailspin & Redhawk a few years back and
they still bring the party wherever they go.
Another spot down Hendertucky way is the newly revamped Legend's Sports Bar. Featuring a Classic Rock local cover band Gypsy Road a few weeks back, rocking the house with everything from Priest & Dokken to Evanescence & Journey. A well know Vegas Drummer 'Tom T', pounding the skins and downing the Captain & Diet's, made for an interesting night of music.
Down just a little past the Hendertuckians, and around the corner, in Boulder City, is a well-known spot among Vegas Bands but quite a distance for most. The Back Stop hosts bands every weekend and recently the Hit & Run All-Stars brought a little Vegas Rock to the small town. Renee Signor and the Boys brought their hard-rocking show to the Back Stop and from what I hear, they made a hell of an impression, as always.
Probably the biggest show of the month of August had to be ―KISS Night II‖, at Vamp'd, of course.
ROXX made their Vamp'd debut, playing to quite an impressive crowd for an off night at the Rock Club. Johnny Roxx and the boys rocked the house and gave the crowd a little taste of what Vegas' newest collaboration of artists has to offer. Make sure to check these guys out, you wont be disappointed.
Tom T, pounding the drums for “Gypsy Road” @ Legend’s...
Stoney Curtis, Shon McKee, K. Caruso and Morpheus Blak brought what seemed like the entire Vegas local music scene together at one venue. This benefit for the Imagine Foundation, which helps to supply musical instruments to students across the Las Vegas Valley, had most every Vegas rock musician in attendance, and half of them were on stage at one point or another. See the pictorial by Mystic Photography in this issue for more.
Watch out in September for the Debut of the Las Vegas‘ Premier DOKKEN Tribute Band! This is going to be ‘Scary’! I will bring the exclusive promotional photos of the band in next month's issue.
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