Skid Row and The Future of Album Releases

Yes, Skid Row is still around. After the departure of Sebastian Bach the band found a new vocalist in Johnny Solinger, who has now been in the band longer than Sebastian was. When I first discovered this fact it was by accident. I picked up the album "Thick Skin" and was so disappointed that it was not Sebastian singing. I really disliked the new sound the band had. But after listening to it a few times I fell in love with it. So since then I've become a Johnny Solinger fan. Now that we've established that, lets discuss why I've labeled this "...and the future of album releases."

In 2013 Skid Row released the EP "United World Rebellion: Chapter One," followed up in July 2014 by another EP "Rise of the Damnation Army -- United World Rebellion: Chapter Two." Why is this important? Well one, they are full of great songs, and two, I am willing to bet that we start to see a shift in recorded music from releasing full length albums to bands releasing smaller EPs at shorter intervals. The way musicians (or rather record companies) sell music is by having a hit single on the radio, YouTube,  etc. But as has almost always been the case, most albums only have one single. So in today's iTunes and Amazon mp3 fueled music scene, only the single is being downloaded. The rest of the album is losing money. That is why it only makes sense that EPs are the future. Like Skid Row, and also a reunited Ugly Kid Joe in 2013, did by concentrating on making a few REALLY good songs to release and not worrying about so called "filler" songs to round out an entire album. This way, especially in pop music, an artist is only worried about recording a couple great songs that make money every 12 months or sooner. More people will be willing to buy or download the entire EP if the last one was pure gold, then release a new EP of 3 or 4 songs 8 months later and they will purchase those ones as well. It is also a way for artists to try that weird avant-garde phase they all go through; don't alienate fans with an entire album of terrible music, just try a few songs out and if it bombs you go back to the old sound. New bands will still have to release entire debut and sophomore albums for touring purposes, but after that they can hop on that EP gravy train.

Concerts 2014

Here's the shows for 2014 so far:

1. Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
2. Amon Amarth / Enslaved / Skeletonwitch
3. Dark Tranquility / Omnium Gatherum
4. Children of Bodom / TYR / Death Angel
5. Hottest Chicks In Hard Rock Tour: Lacuna Coil / Sick Puppies / Cilver / Eyes Set To Kill
6. Faster Pussycat
7. Slayer
8. Cage The Elephant / Foals
9. Powerman 5000 / Knee High Fox
10. KISS / Def Leppard
11. Mushroomhead
12. Jack Russell's Great White
13. Mötley Crüe / Alice Cooper
14. Boston / The Doobie Brothers

15. Deep Purple
16. Faster Pussycat
17. The Pretty Reckless
18. Combichrist / William Control / Davey Suicide

Lifetime total: 173

Concerts 2013

Better late on posting this than never I suppose. Here is the list of shows I saw in 2013:

1. The Who
2. Sabaton
3. Testament / Flotsam & Jetsam
4. Black Veil Brides / William Control
5. GWAR
6. Bon Jovi (in SLC)
7. Bon Jovi (in Las Vegas)
8. Alice Cooper / Marilyn Manson
9. Green Jellö
10. Dick Dale
11. Ted Nugent
12. Rush
13. Gigantour: Megadeth, Black Label Society, Hellyeah
14. Whitesnake
15. Danzig / Doyle
16. Havok
17. Andrew WK
18. Kamelot / Delain
19. Dokken / Firehouse
20. Helloween
21. Watain
22. Living Colour
23. Rob Zombie / Korn
24. Overkill / Kreator
25. Faster Pussycat
26. Mike Tramp

Lifetime total at the end of 2013: 155

My Jack Russell Curse...

It seems that I am cursed by Great White frontman Jack Russell...

Jack Russell of Great White

In 2012 I bought a ticket to see Great White perform at a biker bar in SLC. When I arrived I waited and waited and waited at the outdoor stage that was just a platform sticking out of the cut out side of an old semi trailer. Finally a band came out, and they were doing a sound check by playing Great White tunes. I thought, "Why would the opening act play songs by the main act?" That's when I noticed that the guitarist and keyboardist on stage looked like the guitarist and keyboardist that were pictured in the "...Twice Shy" CD liner notes I had with me. Well who is that dude singing with them? That sure isn't Jack Russell.

A quick wiki search revealed that the band had split and there were now two Great Whites in the world, unbeknownst to me, and apparently I was seeing the one with original members Mark Kendall (guitar) and Michael Lardie (keyboard). Well that didn't set well with me. At all. With me the bands I enjoy are really for the singers. Every other person in the band can be replaced but the singer (excluding Van Halen, in which only the singer can be replaced), when they are replaced its a whole different band. So therefore I was pretty upset seeing someone other than Jack Russell singing for Great White. I decided I wasn't going to stay to see fake Great White, but I went to the side of the stage and waited for them to finish their sound check. As they came off stage I was able to meet Mark and Michael and get them to sign the liner notes I had and then left. The show was only $10, so I figured I hadn't lost that much; I mean I did get to meet some members of the Great White I've known and loved for most my life, and I got to be terrified by some pretty hardcore bikers. Win/Win. Except no Jack Russell.



Jack Russell's Great White



Fast forward to July 2014, I see Jack Russell's Great White is going to be playing at a charity event/biker rally for the Children and the Earth organization (childrenandtheearth.com) and I knew I had to be there. Ever since I recieved Great White's greatest hits for my 14th birthday I have been a huge fan (I also recieved L.A. Guns' self-titled and the greatest hits of Winger, Night Ranger, and Faster Pussycat. It was a life changing birthday gift, from my dad. Thanks dad!). Those albums helped shape my musical tastes, which ultimately shaped who I am today. There was no way I was missing out on this show! Everything was planned out, I'd go to work, hit up a family BBQ, and head to the show. Apparently I am cursed when it comes to seeing Jack Russell. I got off work late, my car broke down on the freeway on my way to the BBQ and I had to be towed, luckily I was able to borrow a vehicle but then had to go back to work to resolve an issue. So hell, first I go to see the band and they're fake, now everything is conspiring against me to prevent me from seeing this show! But against all odds I made it, I got there just early enough to meet Jack next to the stage when the sound check was happening and he signed the liner notes from one of his solo albums, and he also signed the same liner notes that the other members of fake Great White had signed in 2012. I was so excited to meet him, and he is such a cool guy to talk to. I also was able to get original bassist Tony Montana's signature on the liner notes that night, which makes 4 out of 5 of the musicians that recorded that album who have signed it. Even though I may have bad luck when it comes to this band, it didn't affect the performance, it was amazing. It was exactly how I wanted Great White to sound, and exactly what I needed after the wrath I got from the curse that day. Hearing him sing songs like "Desert Moon," and "Rock Me," which were such a part of my teenage years was very special for me. If you ever have a chance to see Jack Russell's Great White I highly recommend it! But I wouldn't bother with fake Great White...

Silver signatures: Top Left - Michael Lardie, Bottom Right - Mark Kendall from the 2012 (fake) Great White show. Black signatures: Bottom Left - Tony Montana, Top Right - Jack Russell from 2014 Jack Russell's Great White show.

New Velvet Revolver Singer?

Story from Classic Rock Magazine:

Is Velvet Revolver’s search for a new Singer finally over? Drummer Matt Sorum says Ours frontman Jimmy Gnecco could be the man to step into Scott Weiland’s pointy shoes.

A precedent, of sorts, has already been set.

At the Road Recovery concert in New York City back in September, Gnecco sang lead vocals on three songs ("Slither" by Velvet Revolver, "It's So Easy" by Guns N’ Roses, "Hey Joe" by Jimi Hendrix) with Slash, Duff McKagan, Gilby Clarke and Matt Sorum, plus Dave Kushner.

“So we’ll see how that goes,” Sorum spoke of the auditioning of Gnecco. “Then we’ve got a couple of other ideas. It looks like Slash is going to make another album, but I’m not sure about his touring and stuff yet. But we’re all open to it and interested in trying to do something together.”

Thought from Metal-Missionary:

Oh pleeeeeeease let this be true! I love that dude's voice! He doesn't sound too good on the "It's So Easy" link above, but try this one from his band Ours. Don't worry I'll wait for you to watch (around 2:20 in the video he screams. Now imagine that with Slash's playing... I know right?!)... "Promises" by Ours

So... whaddidya think? I really enjoy his singing, I first heard of them when they opened for Marilyn Manson in 2008. The audience was pretty rude to them the whole tour apparently, but I became a fan.

Best and Worst* Bands (To Me)

Just so you know where I stand with my musical opinions, I know when I read other people's reviews I'd like to know their personal faves to gauge where they are coming from. 

*Worst in this post means bands that I'd turn the radio off before listening to them. I am sure they are talented groups, but not in my ear's opinion.*

5 Worst Bands

1. The Beatles (I do not see the appeal... AT ALL)
2. Led Zepplin (Robert Plant's voice is like nails on a chalk board to me. Please don't start on the comparisons of other singers trying to sound like him, like Kingdom Come or Zebra or Whitesnake. I don't see a similarity, I just can't stand Plant's singing and I don't know why. The rest of the band play great, but Plant...)
3. The Rolling Stones (Again, I do not see the appeal... just die already, you've been writing the same song for 5 decades)
4. Nirvana (I don't know if I have to justify my dislike here)
5. The Red Jumpsuit Apparatus (Emo band, besides the terrible music they play some of you know my personal reasons for hating this band)

Best Bands (To Me)

1. Iron Maiden
2. Ronnie James Dio (Solo, Black Sabbath, Rainbow, and Elf)
3. Deep Purple
4. Bon Jovi
5. Bruce Dickinson (Solo)
6. Tesla
7. Helloween
8. Megadeth
9. Venom
10. Def Leppard
11. Alice Cooper
12. Edguy
13. Dream Theater
14. Overkill
15. Type O Negative

Now I realize that these bands are very mainstream, so you may think I don't have any taste in "real" Metal and Hard Rock. But there's a reason that bands get mainstream... because they are so good! These are just bands that I could listen to over and over again, all day, everyday. I listen to so many bands and although I have no job as a music columnist, I have such a passion for this music that I hope to be able to do something with this passion.

Guns N' Roses

On December 13th GNR (and we all know that is just an Axl Rose solo band, but who cares?! It's f-ing Axl Rose!) finally came to Utah. I was a bit apprehensive about the concert, I mean will Axl even show up? If he does show will he act enthusiastic? Most importantly will he sound great? Axl Rose needs to sound great, that is the only acceptable setting for him. Even a good Axl isn't good if that makes any sense... Same with Sebastian Bach, Sebastian and Axl did a duet cover of Aerosmith's "Back In the Saddle" and it was terrible! They both only sounded good, and it made the song sound bad. But Sebastian Bach was a major backing vocalist on GNR's "Chinese Democracy" album and they both sounded great which made the album AMAZING! I will probably get shit for saying this but "Chinese Democracy" is hands down the best Guns N' Roses album, in my opinion ( Guns N' Roses' "Better" ).

Black Label Society opened for Guns N' Roses, they were the only openers and they didn't start until 9pm. I just barely saw BLS on November 4th when they opened for Judas Priest. Now don't get me wrong, I love BLS and Zakk Wylde. But I found out that the love is only on CD. I was still upset from the Judas Priest show when I found out that Zakk had a stack of lyrics next to him. And then to make matters worse he played the EXACT SAME SET as when I saw him last month... COME ON ZAKK!!! Why do you hurt me so bad? I saw him last year and went more for Children Of Bodom that opened for him, I also found the band 2cents that show (2cents - "Get What?"). I thought maybe how boring his show was may have been a fluke, because when I saw him play for Ozzy in 2007 it was amazing. Meanwhile when it got time for his guitar solo intermission I turned to my dad who was with me and said "His solo gets really annoying around minute 10." I don't think he thought I was serious until minute 7 or 8 of his outrageously repetitive and simple solo. I will not make an effort to go see Black Label Society again if they come headlining.

The time is now 11pm and GNR finally comes out on stage. DJ Ashba starts out the intro to the song "Chinese Democracy" and the crowd is going insane! The intro gets closer to the end and OMG there he is! Its Axl! I can't believe I am actually seeing Axl Rose perform in Utah. And OMG he sounds amazing! Oh it is going to be a good show! The only thing I can complain about the show was that the band was so loud that they drowned out Axl's voice for probably the first half of the concert until they tweaked the sound enough. So it did get even better than before! And they played for 3 hours non-stop, just hit after hit after hit! People started leaving around 1am, I couldn't believe it. I was so tired but who knows when Axl will come to Utah again, if he ever tours again. I would have stayed another 3 hours to watch that Metal God perform. It was an amazing night. Thanks to my father for the concert ticket!

Concerts!

I started saving my concert ticket stubs in 2004 and I display them in my room.

Pre-2004 concerts: 

1. REO Speedwagon (My very first concert!)
2. Styx / REO Speedwagon / Eddie Money
3. Journey / Styx / REO Speedwagon

2004:

1. Tesla
2. Scorpions / Tesla

2005:

1. Mötley Crüe
2. Slaughter / Steven Pearcy (Ratt) / L.A. Guns
3. FireHouse / Y&T / Eric Martin (Mr. Big)
4. ZZ Top
5. Judas Priest / Anthrax

2006:

1. Tesla / Eric Martin (Mr. Big)
2. Poison / Cinderella
3. Alice Cooper
4. Vince Neil
5. Kansas
6. Megadeth
7. Trans-Siberian Orchestra

2007:

1. Dream Theater
2. Ozzy Osbourne / Rob Zombie
3. Trans-Siberian Orchestra  

2008:

1. OneRepublic (it was a date...)
2. Marilyn Manson / Ours
3. Vans Warped Tour (got a free ticket)
4. Molly Hatchet
5. Journey / Cheap Trick / Heart
6. Foghat
7. Unearth / Whitechapel (I went with a friend who like Unearth, and I discovered Whitechapel)
8. Trans-Siberian Orchestra

2009:

1. Combichrist
2. Skid Row (w/o Sebastian Bach) / L.A. Guns
3. Warrant (w/o Jani Lane RIP) / April Wine
4. Trivium / Whitechapel (I went for Whitechapel)
5. Scott Weiland
6. REO Speedwagon / Styx / 38 Special
7. Blue Öyster Cult
8. Mayhem Festival 2009: Slayer, Marilyn Manson, Cannibal Corpse, Behemoth, Whitechapel, The Black Dahlia Murder, Killswitch Engage, Job For A Cowboy
9. Mötley Crüe
10. Def Leppard / Poison / Cheap Trick
11. Marilyn Manson
12. 38 Special
13. Foreigner / Styx / Kansas
14. Trivium / Whitechapel (Again, I went for Whitechapel)
15. Dethklok (yes the cartoon band from Metalocalypse)
16. Satyricon / Chthonic
17. The Black Dahlia Murder
18. Combichrist
19. Rob Zombie
20. Trans-Siberian Orchestra

2010:

1. Tesla
2. Cinderella
3. Ratt
4. Job For A  Cowboy / Whitechapel
5. L.A. Guns
6. Iron Maiden / Dream Theater
7. Kings Of Leon
8. Bret Michaels (Poison)
9. Rush
10. Scorpions / Tesla / Jackyl
11. Asia
12. Creedence Clearwater Revisited 
13. KISS
14. Slaughter / Frank Hannon (Tesla)
15. The Cult
16. Rob Zombie / Alice Cooper
17. Slayer / Megadeth / Anthrax
18. Watain / Goatwhore
19. Marduk
20. Sacrificial Slaughter / The Pagan Dead 
21. Black Label Society / Children Of Bodom
22. Bret Michaels
23. Mushroomhead 

2011:

1. Queensrÿche
2. Blue Öyster Cult / Foghat
3. Eluveitie / 3 Inches Of Blood
4. Linkin Park
5. Whitechapel
6. Bon Jovi (in Las Vegas)
7. Bon Jovi (in SLC)
8. Frank Hannon (Tesla)
9. Bulletboys
10. Tesla
11. Death Angel
12. Danzig
13. Accept
14. Bang Tango
15. Faster Pussycat
16. Black Country Communion 
17. Mötley Crüe / Poison / New York Dolls
18. Lizzy Borden
19. Def Leppard / Heart
20. Kamelot
21. Dream Theater
22. Evergrey / Sabaton
23. Judas Priest / Black Label Society / Thin Lizzy
24. Mayhem / Keep Of Kalessin
25. Guns N' Roses / Black Label Society 
26. Trans-Siberian Orchestra

Total Concert Amount At End Of 2011: 97