Rock n' Roll Heaven

I saw them, then somebody died.

1. AC/DC (Bon Scott)
2. Led Zeppelin (John Bonham)
3. Thin Lizzy (Phil Lynott)
4. Queen (Freddie Mercury)
5. Def Leppard (Steve Clark)
6. Gamma (Ronnie Montrose)
7. Larry Norman
8. Molly Hatchet (Danny Joe Brown)
9. Chuck Brown

Band Bucket List

Bands I Need to See.

1. Pearl Jam
2. Metallica
3. The Roots
4. Bruce Springsteen & the E Street Band
5. U2
6. Parliament / Funkadelic
7. Anthrax
8. Red Hot Chili Peppers
9. The Flaming Lips

Bands I've Seen.

After last night's show, I thought I'd update my list...

Artists & Bands I've Seen in Concert

1. AC/DC

2. Judas Priest x3

3. Queen

4. Rush x5

5. Led Zeppelin

6. ZZ Top x2

7. The Police

8. Cheap Trick x2

9. Asia

10. The Black Crowes

11. The Alarm

12. Kings X x4

13. Journey x3

14. Peter Frampton

15. Bob Dylan

16. Emmylou Harris x2

17. Buddy and Julie Miller x2

18, The Proclaimers

19. The Cranberries

20. Toad the Wet Sprocket

21. Dream Theater x2

22. Zappa Plays Zappa

23. Queenscryche

24. Iron Maiden x3

25. Kansas

26. Foreigner

27. Scorpions x2

28. Def Leppard x3

29. Gamma

30. Jethro Tull

31. Thin Lizzy

32. Rolling Stones

33. J. Geils Band

34. Jason & the Scorchers x3

35. Randy Newman

35. Simon & Garfunkel

36. The Everly Bros

37. Carbon Leaf

38. Seven Nations x5

39. The Trans-Siberian Orchestra x3

40. Saxon

41. Motorhead x2

42. Heaven and Hell (Black Sabbath w/ RJD)

43. Larry Norman x2

44. Eddie From Ohio

45. Shawn Colvin

46. Johnathon Waite

47. April Wine

48. Krokus

49. Girlschool

50. Styx x2

51. Nickelback

52. Papa Roach

53. Hinder x2

54. Saving Abel

55. Los Lonely Boys x2

56. Los Lobos

57. The Young Dubliners

58. Great Big Sea

59. Phil Keaggy x4

60. Second Chapter of Acts

61. Blue Oyster Cult x2

62. The Machine

63. Stryper

64. The Thompson Twins

65. Howard Jones

66. TNT

67. Loudness

68. Testament x2

69. REM

70. The dbs

71. Dan Fogelberg

72. Chicago

73. Earth, Wind & Fire

74. Pete Yorn

75. Over the Rhine

76. Bill Mallonee x5

77. Ted Nugent

78. Molly Hatchett

79. Wishbone Ash

80. Pat Travers

81. Johnny Winters

82. Moe.

83. Savatage

84. The Galactic Cowboys

85. Saga

86. Susan Tedeschi

87. Chuck Brown and the Soul Searchers

88. Accept x3

89. Tom Petty & the Heartbreakers with special guest Stevie Nicks

90. Social Distortion x2

91. Collective Soul

92. Bryan Adams

93. Trey Anastasio

94. Christopher Parkening

95. Bruce Cockburn

96. Epica

97. Blackguard x2

98. SignalThreat

99. Megadeth

100. Roger Clyne and the Peacemakers x2

101. Alice Cooper

102. Godsmack x2

102. Halestorm

103. Alter Bridge

104. Bullet for My Valentine x2

105. Seether x2

106. Sevendust

108. Red Fang

109. Avenged Sevenfold

110. Pop Evil

111. Skillet

112. Foo Fighters

113. The Joy Formidable

114. Ryan Montbleau Band x4

115. Disturbed

116. Trivium

117. Straight Line Stitch

118. Machine Head

119. In Flames

120. Black Tide

121. Three Days Grace

122. Escape the Fate

123. Theory of a Deadman
124. Sabaton
125. Sound of Thunder

It always comes back to Rush.

This is a repost of something I wrote a couple of years ago on Facebook, it's cross posted there too.

It always comes back to Rush. Why does it always come back to Rush? It just always comes back to those three guys from Canada. It just does.

I just watched the new documentary about Rush, “Beyond the Lighted Stage”. Like the famously cliched review, “I laughed, I cried...”, I was touched in surprising ways.

Movies about rock bands are a dime a dozen and most of them are as forgettable as the bands they expose. Not this time. Maybe because this is not the story of rock stars, but three life-long friends.

Anyway, it always comes back to Rush for me. I, like many fans my age, discovered Rush with their fourth album 2112. To say that it blew my high school mind wouldn't be completely accurate, in hindsight. Really how many of us, as sixteen year olds have much of a mind to blow? Oh sure, we fancy ourselves intellectual or sophisticated, but come on... now we all know better don't we?

It probably wasn't until they were on their tragic and unintentional sabbatical in the 1990s that I really came to appreciate their profound influence on me. I came across their live album “Different Stages” and became reacquainted with my old friends. That album came out at about the same time we first had internet access at home. So, like many fans of many artists, I had access to the Rush fan community like never before. It was there that I found out what had been happening with what had once been my favorite band. I read about Neil's tragic loss of his daughter and wife. I explored releases that I wasn't that familiar with, and heard the rumors of the bands return. Hell, I didn't even know they'd been away! Some fan I was!

The last dozen or so years have been amazingly prolific for the band, and I've been there at every step. As soon as their latest tour was announced I did two things that I'm not know for – I paid the premium for a premium ticket and I bought only one ticket. Going to concerts alone is not something I'm fond of doing, I like to share the experience, but this time it felt like the right thing to do. Man, Sept 18th can't get here soon enough!

So, anyway, why does it always come back to Rush? Well, I don't want to start quoting lyrics that have had an impact because there are too many. It's not just the lyrics. Some of the instrumentals touch me in a most powerful way. That might be hard to understand, but it's true. Jazz legend Charlie Parker said, “If you don't live it, it won't come out your horn.” That explains so much to me about the power of instrumental music. There is life in those notes. To me, it's as simple as that. There is life in there. Life.

Let me summarize this ramble this way. If you want to truly understand me, you have to understand Rush. You don't have to like them, but you must understand them. Now, I know some could care less and that's fine. Hell, sometimes I don't even care. But I've come to realize that I understand more about myself through their music than just about any other way these days. They inspire me like no other artists.

That being said, here is a short list of essential Rush tracks.

Closer to the Heart

Spirit of Radio

Entre Nous

La Villa Strangiato

Working Man

Anthem

Tom Sawyer

Limelight

Free Will

Far Cry

YYZ

Ok, maybe not so short, but it could be much longer!

Radio show ROCKS the metal

If you're a fan of metal, you need to make time on Sunday nights to tune into Damage Inc., a show on WRCU-FM hosted by Kyle Larson. Kyle mixes a wicked playlist with a love for and knowledge of the best metal out there, past and present. If the show's name didn't clue you in, Kyle is a huge Metallica fan, although you can count on a well-blended mix of bands and songs, coupled with expert commentary.

Tune in to Damage Inc. Sunday nights from 1am-2am ET/10pm-11pm PT.
You won't be disappointed.

http://wrcufm.com/showInfo.php?id=1518

(Click here for a look at Kyle's past playlists)

The future of Metal is in good hands!

I know I'm late to this game, but I can't say enough good things about Huntington California's Avenged Sevenfold.

I'm still fixated on their latest release "Nightmare", while slowly delving into their back catalog.

I love, love this album.  It has shot the band into my top 10 along with Rush, Led Zeppelin and Iron Maiden.  Heavy lyrics, often with vaguely spiritual allusions are the MO here.  I've found most of the newer metal and/or metalcore bands lack a certain lyrical depth.  Not these guys. I'd put them up there with Maiden or Dream Theater.

Heavy guitars with brilliant melodies and time signatures that expose a certain progressive element seems to be the default setting.  Add big choruses and even a "power" ballad!!  I find myself struggling to describe their sound, because I'm listening and I'm transfixed.

Oh, and love the little bell in the beginning of Natural Born Killers - it makes me laugh out loud every time.

Make no mistake, this is a metal album, by a metal band.  It will not appeal to everyone.  However, take a chance, you might be surprised.

Other tracks, not on Nightmare that have my attention are, Almost Easy, Afterlife and Bat County.  Bat Country was inspired by Hunter S Thompson's Book "Fear and Loathing in Las Vegas"

I'm hooked I tell ya! These guys are fellow travelers for sure.

My favorite songs of 2011

Mark has already shared his favorite tunes from the past year. Now, it's my turn.

To be honest, I had a difficult time with my list, because I spend most of my time stuck in the 80's and 90's and my playlists consist mostly of metal bands (with a few surprises thrown in for good measure). But, as I looked back on the songs that helped shape my 2011 soundtrack, I realized that a handful were actually songs from the past year!

So, here they are (not in any particular order):

Party Rock Anthem/LMFAO - I first heard this song on a commercial that confused me, because I couldn't figure out what they were trying to sell: cars or video games. I've never heard the song in full and I don't care to. Just give me the dancing hamsters!



No More/LL Cool J & Ne-Yo - I've loved LL Cool J since he first hit the scene in the 80's. When he branched out into acting, I wasn't sure what to think until I saw him in action. I love his acting talent, but was thrilled when a recent NCIS: Los Angeles episode ended with this song. I love it more than I can say. BTW, if you're on Twitter, LL is one of the most positive and inspirational/motivational people there. Follow him: @LLCoolJ



Starlight/Rachael Yamagata - I first heard this song when Rachael performed on the show I work on. I immediately fell in love with her unique vocals and the stripped down accompaniment. The fully electric version is just as awesome, although the beginning is a little repetitive. Wait for her to reach the chorus, then listen through to the end of the song. You won't regret it.



Make Some Noise/Beastie Boys - I love love love love love love love the Beasties! They could rap the alphabet and it would make my list. The video really makes this song. There are so many cameos that I had to keep watching over and over just to see everyone. Okay, that's the excuse I'm using, anyway.  I will say this: Ted Danson was quite the surprise. I would never use his name and the Beasties in the same breath.



Up/James Morrison - I sometimes call James a "guilty pleasure," then I think he doesn't really fit that mold. I also like Leif Garrett and think he fits more into the "guilty pleasure" mode. So, James is stepping up and taking his place along the likes of Beasties, Coldplay and other "mainstream" acts. "Up" is one of the songs from his new album. I like the message, the tune and the duet he does with Jessie J.



More/Usher - I thought this song was older than 2011, but it was on a list of 2011 songs, so I'm sticking it in this list. I love love love this song. I first heard it as a promo to NBA playoffs and even though I hate the NBA, I liked the ad because of the song. If you think I watch a lot of TV, including commercials, you're right (see the dancing hamsters above)



Bad As Me/Tom Waits - Listening to Tom Waits is like doing shots of whiskey all night without getting drunk or waking up with a hangover the next morning.




Every Teardrop is a Waterfall/Coldplay - I like this song because it gets my toes tapping and lifts my spirits. I feel like dancing whenever I hear it.



Accidents Can Happen (Acoustic)/Sixx: A.M. - The electric version of this song is also very stellar, but the acoustic version seems more intimate and personal. I love this song for many reasons. If you know me, you've read the post I wrote on my Tumblr site explaining my connection to this song. The thing that really blows my mind about Sixx: A.M. is hearing that the singer (James Michael) doesn't consider himself a "singer." He identifies himself more as a producer. Listen to this song and you'll see what I mean when I say he's full of shit. He's one of the most incredible singers I've heard in a long time.