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- Written by: Bluebird
Photo Info:
Adler - Left to Right: Lonny Paul, Steven Adler, Jacob Bunton, Johnny Martin
Photo Credit: Liz Taylor / Smackdab Media
Back From The Dead has been out for several months, and even Guns and Roses' purists, who can be die hard skeptics, are diggin it. Recorded in Los Angeles with producer Jeff Pilson (FOREIGNER, DOKKEN) and mixed by Jay Ruston (ANTHRAX, STONE SOUR) it is bold and modern bright, with 1980's loyalties. Some rockers are saying it's one of the better solo works to come out of the GnR tradition, even going as far as saying it's as good as, or better than, Slash's latest release. This may be good news for Slash, however, because he guests on the album. Heavy and sharp, with plenty of straight up head bang-er phrasing, the album emits high energy and a good dose of solo edges, to add to the tension building. The release explodes into a great frenzy of metal mania, and the record is an enjoyable listen, because of the quality of musicianship. The experience of these talented musicians and great balanced production, makes the heavy sound accessible to classic rock fans too. Track 10, "Your Diamonds," had a vintage feel of deep cut Boston or Journey, in the strong vocal harmonies, stop on a dime timing, and piano/organ back tones, finishing finally, in a guitar solo tease- and an anthem rant that fans can latch on to. The only one ballad of the record, "Just Don't Ask" features Slash. It has that 80's hair band feel, with sing along, memorable melodies, remaining strong to the metal edges that we love so much from that era.
The editor of the Led Zeppelin Ultimate Fan Page listened to the record and had this review:
It's basically straight up rock and roll, no frills, effects. Adler proves that he still has what it takes to keep the backbeat of a band. The band sounds tight and a good indication that they can grow if they stick to the basics and not try to compete or imitate with other bands out there. Having John 5 guest on 'Good to be Bad' is my favourite track. (Slash actually appears on 'Just Don't Ask'.) I enjoyed it, honestly, (and yes, I loved Slash's solo work, too) which says a lot, as I was initially a skeptic of Adler's, so this is huge for me to give a positive review of Back From The Dead. (Izzy's solo efforts are also amazing, by the way. The debut, Izzy Stradlin and the Ju Ju Hounds, is still a fave CD of mine.)
Fan pick tracks: "Good to be Bad," "Habit," "Own Worst Enemy."
LINKS:
Read an interview with Jacob Bunton of ADLER here.
Facebook:
Twitter:
Official:
PRESS RELEASES:
From Celebrity Rehab to the Rock N Roll Hall Of Fame, Adler marks
a new beginning for legendary drummer Steven Adler (Guns N
Roses). The collective foursome known as Adler is comprised of
Steven Adler, frontman Jacob Bunton (Lynam, Mars Electric),
guitarist Lonny Paul (Adler's Appetite), and Johnny Martin (Chelsea
Smiles).
Adler came together after a chance meeting with Bunton and Paul at
The Key Club in Hollywood, CA. "I was in town for a friends
memorial" states Bunton. "I was at a club on the strip with my friend
Jay Ruston. He told me he wanted me to meet with a couple of the
Adler's Appetite guys to discuss a new project. He introduced me to
Lonny and we hit it off immediately. The next day Lonny and Steven
came to my hotel room and we sat around and talked music for hours.
We got together and jammed a couple of days later and the chemistry
was amazing!"
"I put together Adler's Appetite to play the old Guns N Roses songs
for the fans" states Steven Adler. "While we were on the road last
year, Lonny gave me a CD with some amazing songs that he had
written. It really lit a fire inside me to start creating again. We
immediately started looking for a singer, but after trying out several
candidates, we got a little discouraged. I wanted someone with a
dynamic range that had their own sound and style. Just when we
thought we had hit a brick wall looking for a singer, Lonny called me
one night and said he had just met Jacob and that he was our guy. As
soon as I met Jacob and heard him sing, I knew that I had found the
singer I had been looking for."
"I had been playing guitar for Steven in Adler's Appetite for about six
months" explains Paul. "Steven decided to end Adler's Appetite and
focus on a new project from scratch. We were looking for a singer
with a unique voice and a broad range. Jay suggested Jacob and said
we should meet. It's funny because when I pulled up to The Key Club
that night, I saw Jacob outside and said to my friend 'that dude is a
total rockstar, I wonder if he can sing.' When Jay called him over to
meet me, I thought this is meant to be. Jacob is exactly the frontman
that we had been looking for."
For the next few months Bunton and Paul worked on writing new
material. In January, the band began recording their debut album with
producer Jeff Pilson (Dokken, Foreigner) and mixer Jay Ruston
(Anthrax, Steel Panther, The Donnas). "The Chemistry between all of
us is amazing" says Bunton. "The recording process has been an
awesome experience. We're not relying on computers and auto tune
to fix everything. We're totally going by feel and capturing the raw
energy of the songs. It's a real rock n roll album, performed by a
band, with a real human element."
Adler's debut album, Back From The Dead features guest
performances from Steven Adler's former Guns N Roses bandmate
Slash, as well as Rob Zombie / Ex-Marilyn Manson guitarist John 5.
"I haven't been this excited about my band since the Guns N Roses
days" states Adler. "I'm so excited for everyone to hear this record!"
Back From The Dead was released through New Ocean Media.
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- Written by: Bluebird
"I'll write you a letter tomorrow, tonight I can't hold a pen ..."
The Replacments have confirmed three show dates in the US and Toronto for 2013. The Star Tribune, Consequence of Sound and Pitchfork have all run articles on this news. The RIOT FEST series of concerts has them listed in their line-up.
Read more: The REPLACEMENTS confirm three show dates for 2013
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- Written by: Bluebird
Mozes and The First Born.
From the Netherlands. A fresh take on pop catches. Garage rock for your living room or next mod party. Psychedelic 70's mixes of rock fuses light up their self-titled debut of 12 songs. We got some promo tracks and found ourselves addicted to clicking and listening for more. My new saying is, "Let's see what's next." Mozes and The First Born. "What's next?"
Press Bio:
As a child, lead singer Melle Dielesen (23) spent countless
hours in front of the television watching and rewinding the animated movie
Prince of Egypt. It tells the ancient tale of Mozes. In which God as
one of his Ten Plagues in order to harass the tyrannical Pharaoh, commands all
the firstborn in the land of Egypt dead. A rather macabre plot, which along with
the rest of the movie made a deep impression on the young Melle.
Several years later Melle found himself living in London writing songs. When
he was in need of a name for this novel musical project, his childhood
fascination soared back to him. Mozes and the Firstborn, so was decided, was to
be the name of his new still-to-be-formed band. In 2010 he returned to his
hometown of Eindhoven, the Netherlands to look for potential band members.
Through a mutual acquaintance he met drummer Raven Aartsen (18)
and the two young guns decided to work together to chase their dream of becoming
full-time musicians. It was not before long when high-school friend and bassist
Corto Blommaert (23) was recruited to join the duo. Their first
EP I Got Skills was released shortly after this. Ultimately, a year and
a half later guitarist Ernst-Jan van Doorn (28) was added as
the fourth member and consequently the band reached its final and definite
state.
All songs written and recorded by Mozes and the Firstborn
Mixed by Michel Schoots & Mozes and the Firstborn
Produced by Michel Schoots & Mozes and the Firstborn
Mastered by Hay Zeelen
Recorded at Biscuit Studios
(P) © 2013 Mozes And The Firstborn
Worldwide management by Meijer Music Management
www.mozesandthefirstborn.com
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- Written by: Bluebird
May 26th, 2013.
HAPPY BIRTHDAY STEVIE NICKS!
Rock on Goldust Woman!
Looking through my old ticket stubs and recalling the shows that I've seen. I was lucky enough to catch STEVIE NICKS with PETER FRAMPTON in 1986 at the Orange County Fair in Middletown, NY. Back then, cameras and video were rare to bring to shows unless you were a bootlegger, which I never was. Thankfully, years later, shared footage is available. Take a look at the excitement that Stevie created while supporting Frampton on tour. And watch at the end how she is SO gracious and involved with her fans. She STILL is!
I saw her again in 1989 at Jones Beach. She is one of those artists who is so close to my heart and soul, that I've never written an article about her. Despite the full Fleetwood Mac collection and Stevie Nicks solo records, placing ethereal music and lyrics in my head for the past several decades, finding words to talk about the Welsh Witch Music muse is difficult. All that I can say is she was part of my own coming of age in understanding music can be an expression of what is unspoken. I learned from Stevie Nicks that music is not only something you listen to, but a way of life. Her songs describe a type of connection that very few understand. She sings of the grey areas between love and loss, spirit and wind, being and thought. If you're a Stevie Nicks fan, you will know what I am talking about.
And to those that I love
Like a ghost through a fog
Like a charmed hour and a haunted song
And the angel of my dreams
Angel of my dreams~From "Angel," Tusk, Fleetwood Mac 1980 B-Side to "Sisters of The Moon" (single), 1979 (album).
One of my favorite videos of Stevie Nicks includes Lindsey Buckingham, recording the song, "Angel". Notice the connection, the tension, that is still between this dynamic couple in rock. Their chemistry on stage and in songwriting remains unmatched in this and any other lifetime.
As of this writing, Stevie Nicks is touring with Fleetwood Mac and promoting several previously unreleased songs with the band.
Here are her latest press releases:
New Fleetwood Mac Songs Released
Fleetwood Mac has released 4 new songs on a downloadable set titled Extended Play. The set includes Lindsey's "Sad Angel" and Stevie's "Without You" which are being played on the tour, plus two other songs, "It takes Time" and "Miss Fantasy". The songs are available on iTunes and Amazon. The songs can be downloaded individually or as a set. Click HERE to go to iTunes and preview or purchase the songs on Extended Play.
She is also involved in a recent movie:
"Stevie Nicks: In Your Dreams" Download Available The "In Your Dreams" film documentary is available for digital download exclusively at iTunes on May 14th. The film is being released after a recent successful theatrical run where it received rave reviews by the fans across the US and Canada. You can purchase it on the iTunes order page.
Visit Stevie's website at http://rockalittle.com/
And the summer became the fall
I was not ready for the winter
It makes no difference at all
'Cause I wear boots all summer long~from "Nightbird," The Wild Heart, Stevie Nicks (1983).
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- Written by: Bluebird
We've seen Bob Dylan and His Band twice in the past few years. When he comes through the Western Mass area, the homage to this poet-songwriter legend is a tradition. No photos, no fanfare, no announcement, just the show.
In my research, preparing to write up the review of the recent live performance, I revisited, Self Portrait. From Columbia Records, Dylan released a highly criticized double album of covers, 'as a joke' to 'get everyone off his back, and end the spokesman of a generation tags.'
Despite reactions from Greil Marcus of Rolling Stone, 'What is this shit?'* the album went gold in the US, where it hit #4, and gave Dylan yet another UK #1 hit before it fell down the charts.
One of the songs that has stayed with me from this double album of covers and varied folk productions is 'Early Mornin' Rain'. A Gordon Lightfoot tune from Lightfoot! , I could swear I heard Dylan smile while he was singing this song. Understanding the context of the entire record, maybe he was!
*Greil Marcus, "Self Portrait No. 25", in Studio A: The Bob Dylan Reader (1970), p. 74 (Benjamin Hedin, ed., 2004).
