What A Guns n' Roses Meet and Greet Is Like

I'm a huge Guns n' Roses fan, and more importantly, I am 100% Team Axl when it comes to the current divide amongst the fans of the band between Axl Rose and the other four original members. So when it was announced that Axl was bringing the show to Las Vegas for a 12 night residency from October to November of 2012, my interest in attending was immediately peaked. I ended up getting tickets to attend the last night of the series of shows (November 24, 2012). Reviews of the show have already been posted, and the videos are out on Youtube, so everyone can see the actual show for themselves.  The point of this post is to tell you about the biggest gamble I took in Vegas: I bought the meet and greet ticket option for the show!

In all honesty, I went back and forth on whether the extra money was worth it, because it was advertised that you would meet "members of Guns n Roses." We all know that there is only one member anyone wants to meet, and he isn't known for doing meet and greets, or even for getting to the stage on time.  But I thought, "Axl's been more fan friendly these days, it is the last show of the residency... maybe he will show up," and I decided to go for it.

 

It was a rather disorganized event, but the staff was nice enough. Upon checking in, we were lead to a side room with a private bar where we waited for the meet and greet to begin.  I met a mother/son duo who flew to Vegas from New Hampshire to attend all three shows that week, and they did the meet and greet each time, and Axl hadn't shown up for the prior two that week, so I was disheartened, but I had faith. He would be there!

 

After a half hour, we all lined up at the door to go upstairs to meet the band. Those with GA floor tickets were first in the line (which included me).  I was about 50 deep in the line of probably 200 to 250 people total. Upon getting upstairs, we saw Robin Finck walking around, but we all stayed in line. It was tough to read the faces of those leaving, and no one was overjoyed, so doubt started setting in.  After 20 minutes or so, we were led into the room and saw who was there... DJ Ashba, Tommy Stinson, Ron 'Bumblefoot' Thal, Dizzy Reed... and NO ONE ELSE! I was bummed, but hey, it was Vegas. I took my gamble and I lost. Such is life.

 

To their credit, all four of the guys were extremely friendly and personable. They have a tough job because they know that everyone in that line was hoping to meet someone who wasn't there. They took pictures, made small talk and then moved you along.  Thankfully, the cost for this meet and greet wasn't like the KISS or Aerosmith price range ($1000 - $1500), but rather was about an additional $80 or $100. It was still a good time and the show was amazing. Team Axl for life!

Sevendust, 'Black Out The Sun' -- Album Review

What can said about Sevendust that has not already been stated before? One of the hardest working bands out there today, road warriors, consistently releasing strong albums and  putting on powerful live performances, but yet that next level of success seems to elude them, no matter how well deserved.  The latest effort by the band, Black Out The Sun, is just one more example of a band that delivers and deserves more recognition.

Black Out The Sun is a solid album.  From the powerful opening riff on "Faithless," the band shows what they do better than anyone else out there, and that is heavy syncopated rhythms with a forceful drive that can only be achieved by a band that works so well together as a unit. What would sound forced and over-rehearsed by so many others sounds natural to Sevendust. The album remains strong throughout, with the right mix of heavy ("Till Death") to catchy rhythm ("Mountain") to the introspective ("Got A Feeling"). Sevendust definitely has a formula to what they do, but they continue to improve upon that year after year. 

 

If you are already a fan of the band, then you know what to expect, and they do not disappoint. If you are new to the band, then what better time to jump on board?  Between Black Out The Sun, and the prior album, Cold Day Memory, Sevendust have clearly hit their stride and really can do no wrong.  Sevendust should not be the best kept secret in heavy music... they should be a headlining act in a shed on one of the summer music tours. The rest of world needs to wake up!

 

So everyone, pick up your sharpie and circle March 26, 2013 on your calendars, and then when the day finally rolls around, run out to pick up your physical copy or (legally) download your copy of Black Out The Sun. You will be glad that you did.  Then, when the band rolls through your town on their current tour (with a reunited Coal Chamber), make sure you are in attendance (I know I will be seeing them AT LEAST twice).  Sevendust has worked hard to get everything they have, but they have earned more.... give it to them!

First single, "Decay"

Starwood, 'If It Ain’t Broke, Break It' -- Album Review

Welcome to 2004! 

Okay, sometimes we are all a little late to the party, and in this case it is me that fell behind.  I just purchased the If It Ain’t Broke, Break It album (GREAT title) released by Starwood in 2004.  For those of you that do not know, Starwood is a side project fronted by none other than Lizzy Borden.  Now, I am a huge Lizzy Borden fan, as I think he has an amazing voice and the energy he (and his entire band) put into a live show is always top notch.  So how could I not purchase this album.  The first thing that grabs you when listening to this album is that it is not a Lizzy Borden album, which is great.  Performing under a different name gave Lizzy the chance to break character and not be confined to the role he has created in his main gig.  The songs do not have to be about axes and voyeurism, but instead he is free to write and sing about anything he so chooses.  Overall the album is strong, and I find myself listening to it again and again. "Subculture," "What’s Your Damage" and "Social Zero" are among my favorite tracks, but taken as a whole, this is definitely a solid effort.  However, there are a few things I would have liked to have changed about this album.  I wish Lizzy and the band had spent a little bit more time developing the songs and the lyrics.  I think with a little bit more time, the songs would have finished stronger and have made more of an impact.  For example, there is a song called “All My Girlfriends Have Boyfriends” on the album.  I give them credit for coming up with a clever song title that really could have been developed into something perhaps humorous and memorable.  Instead, the chorus simply repeats, “All my girlfriends have boyfriends, ohh no, ohh, no” over and over again, and is ultimately forgettable. To me, this seems like a missed opportunity.  Also, I wish Lizzy had looked further for the members of Starwood (most members of Starwood are also members of the Lizzy Borden band), as several of the songs actually sound like they could be Lizzy Borden songs, and I think it would have been good for him to break further away from that character and sound he has already created.  While Joey Scott is a great metal drummer and is a perfect fit for the Lizzy band, I think he lacks a certain amount of "flow" in his playing for something that is more pop rock sounding, and I think Lizzy would have fared better with a more groove-oriented drummer for this project (…and yes, I know that Joey is Lizzy’s brother).   

At the end of the day, I do dig the album, and would encourage any fans of Lizzy Borden to buy a copy of the Starwood release (under $10 from iTunes). Even for the shortcomings mentioned above, it is still a great, solid record.

Don't Dare Ask Tommy Lee For A Photo

Tommy Lee apparently felt the need to take a public stance on the issue of having to take pictures with his fans. Below is what he posted on his official Facebook page on June 28, 2012 (the profanity edits are mine, the poor spelling and grammar are from the original):

 

Dear Fans,

I f---ing LOVE my fans! And you know this!!!... If you asked anyone that knows me really well they would tell ya the same thing...Tommy loves his fans. He lives for this shit...he eats, breaths, shits music 24/7. They’ll also probably tell ya that he’s a down to earth grateful life lovin dude and a nice guy too. What I have a problem with is... Taking pictures! I hate it! Irritates the f...uck out of me when people say...you owe it to your fans, they put you where you are, etc etc! I certainly dont owe anybody anything! When I bought all my Led Zeppelin records and concert tickets I didn’t say “one day these fuckers are gonna owe me a picture” It’s the least they can do for me!...wtf people? You dont admire something so that it can give back... You just cherish it! And to those who say..you should be grateful that people wanna take your picture maybe one day they wont want it!.... That day cant come soon enough! BTW..I’m not here to take pictures with you, I’m here to entertain you!

 
Nobody put me where I am but ME! They may have helped inspire me with their love for what I do...but I put myself right here where I want to be with a lot of hard work, practice, talent, luck, etc. What I do owe myself and others is being THE BEST I can be! And that’s making great music, being a good man, father, lover and human being! We all owe that kinda stuff to ourselves and each other. People do we really need a silly picture?... For what bragging rights? Really?.. Who fucking cares! Someones not gonna believe you if ya dont have the proof pic?...then fuck em! I’d never go up to someone that I admired and bug them for a picture!! Why!.... I might say a quick hello...maybe a handshake?.. I dunno..it depends on the “situation”... Most people never consider the “situation”. Thats really important... Ya wouldn’t wanna handshake standing at the pisser in the mens bathroom next to me would ya?... And Yes thats happened to me too... Or when your eating a nice quite meal with your family some rude jackass comes up and asks for a picture! You cant even imagine what kinda crazy has happened to me. I understand the excitement and all but just take a second and think... Is this cool right now? Its called Consciousness; it’s the quality or state of being aware of an external object or something within oneself. Be Conscious. So like I said.. The fastest way to get me to leave is whip out a camera! Maybe just say hello and I'll probably take ya home with me! Well I’d have to ask my girlfriend first! Hah!

Sincerely yours,
The Picture Taker Hater!
Tommy Lee

 

So that is fine, Mr. Lee, if you do not want to take pictures with your fans... but then riddle me this? Why are you willing to take such pictures when those same fans pay $1,500 per ticket for the Motley Crue VIP Experience? To me, that is glaring evidence of your hypocrisy. If it is about the music, then why are you able to set your personal feelings about the act of taking picture with your fans aside when you are making some easy money? Perhaps you need to re-examine your position on this issue, and either (1) live by the words you typed above and stop cashing those VIP Experience checks, or (2) acknowledge all fans equally, and do not begrudge every fan that asks you for a quick picture. I understands some situations don't warrant you agreeing to a picture, but remember, these are your fans that probably have followed your career (missteps and all) for decades, and it is probably an exciting moment that they want to memorialize. I'm sorry we don't all have the exciting life that you lead Tommy, but to take a stance like this is pointless and is only going to serve to further alienate Motley Crue from their fans.  Well played, Tommy... well played.

Book Wars: Ace Frehley Falls Flat, Duff McKagan Crushes Expectations

I decided to take advantage of some quiet time Easter afternoon and get back to reading Ace Frehley's No Regrets autobiography, and quite honestly, I felt compelled to write this post based on complete and total disappointment with his book. According to my Kindle, I'm 67% through the book, and it has yet to even get...good. His revisionist history is absurd and delusional. Throughout the book, Ace is basically praising Gene Simmons and Paul Stanley, when for years he has been bashing them publicly. Then, there are the segments upon segments about how he plays music for the sake of making music and it isn't about the money with him (yet he charges fans for pictures and autographs at least two times per year at conventions) and that the show was too grand for his tastes (but yet he did it for years and years and helped create what the show was). Worst of all is how he describes the recording the Alive album, and how his live parts were too sloppy to be used on the record so they had to be redone in the studio. He justifies this by saying that he is a performer who is playing based on the feel he is getting from the audience, and he isn't a "studio performer." The simple fact of the matter is maybe Ace is just not as talented as he likes to envision himself. I once heard a friend say to someone else, "You can lie to me, but don't lie to yourself." I think Ace should maybe take that lesson to heart. Finally, the reason we all buy these books are for the behind the scenes "dirt" that we are not privy to.

I just finished reading about the infamous Tom Snyder interview where Ace stole the show, much to the dismay of Gene (mostly) and Paul. Ace recounts this fondly, as he should, but then the story just stops. I wanted to know what happened in the limo after the interview. Was there an argument? What was said? Who was angry? As I said in my review of Steven Adler's (awful) autobiography, if you want to sell your story, then you need to give the reader SOMETHING TO READ! You need to dig deep and share the struggles and emotions during the good and the bad times, otherwise your book is nothing more than a 300 page magazine article. Ace's book is just about how great his life and friends were; how it is the producers' fault that he couldn't deliver the goods on Destroyer (so studio musicians were used), and how much of an "artist" he is... and quite frankly, I'm not buying what he is selling.

Mind you, I am a HUGE KISS fan. I love the band, the songs, the live shows and the history. But this is simply too much and clearly not true. I want Ace to be great, and I appreciate his role and contributions to the band, but do not sell the fans a fluff piece and call it your story...otherwise what is the point?

Now, on the other end of the spectrum is Duff McKagan's book, It's So Easy: and Other Lies, which is, in my humble opinion, the single best autobiography written by a current/former rock star (and yes... I have read The Dirt by Motley Crue). Duff has the ability to tell stories, make them interesting to the reader, go in-depth so that you fully understand where he was at any given point in time. And above everything else, you clearly get the sense that he is being honest with both himself and the reader. When reading his book, I actually had trouble putting it down, as it is just that good. So to Duff, I say, as a fan, THANK YOU. Thank you for giving your fans something that is actually worth them spending their money on and worth taking the time to read. Thank you for sharing your story, the good parts and the bad, so that those of us that have only wondered what is like to be a part of a super group understand what it is actually like, including the mental and physical impact.

And to the readers of BBG!, if you want my recommendation, the next time you are browsing the aisles of Barnes & Noble looking for your next autobiography, you should pass on the Ace Frehley book (sadly), and pick up Duff McKagan's book. You will thank me for it when you are done reading.

Electric Boys New Album Released in the U.S.

March 13th was a day I had circled on my calendar for months. Why, you ask? Well, that was the U.S. release date of the latest album by the Electric Boys, ...And Them Boys Done Swang. The album was probably released over a year ago overseas, but there was apparently no U.S. distribution for the album at that time. I watched the album on eBay, but the prices were too high to justify the purchase, and I refuse to illegally download albums off the Internet, so I waited and waited. Finally, they announced the U.S. release date, and I for one, was thrilled.

The album is classic Electric Boys. It just has a groove to it that I love, and the band sounds as good as ever. My personal favorite is "Rollin' Down The Road" which has a great guitar riff, beefed up with some amazing horns. Just love the way it moves. Other great tunes off this one include "Welcome to the High Times," "Angel in a Armoured Suit," "Put Your Arms Around Me" and "Sometimes U Gotta Go Look For The Car." I also like how the average song is probably just about three minutes long...so they hit you hard with a groove, change it up somewhere in the middle, and then they don't overkill it and move on to the next song. Overall, the album is just put together very well.

I have listened to this album on an almost daily basis since the first day I was able to get my grubby little hands on it. The Electric Boys are one of my favorite bands from back in the day, and are also tragically underrated. While I will still holdout hope that I'll get to experience a live Electric Boys show at least one more time (though I doubt they will venture to the states again), I'm at least happy that I can still get amazing new music from these guys.

Gigant-Snore Review

Back on January 27th, I attended the Gigantour show at the Mohegan Sun area in Uncasville, Connecticut. On the bill this time around was (headliner) Megadeth, Motorhead, Volbeat and Lacuna Coil. Now, in the interest of full disclosure, I am not a huge Megadeth fan, but there was nothing else coming around so I decided to attend. In fact, I think Megadeth is the band that I care least about that I somehow manage to see the most.

The evening started off with a 35 minute set from Lacuna Coil. I had never heard them (or Volbeat) before this show, and I was almost completely unimpressed by this band. The female singer Cristina Scabbia has an amazing voice and is not too bad to look at either. However the rest of the band, to me, seemed average. But the worst was the male singer, Andrea Ferro, who I can best describe as the Flava Flav of Nu Metal. He can't sing very well, interjects himself where he isn't needed, and continually annoys with instructions to jump up and down, clap your hands, etc. I was glad their set was only 35 minutes.

Volbeat was next, and while I was unfamiliar with their music, they put on a high energy set and were just a solid band. For me, they were the highlight of the night. They were tight and knew how to put on a show. Plus, the singer was generally appreciative of all reactions from the crowd (which was starting to fill in at this point), which I just like. The downside of this band is all of their songs start to sound very similar about half way through their set.

Next up was Motorhead, who were the real reason I attended. Believe or not, I had never seen them live before. They were exactly what you would expect them to be, so I was neither blown away or let down by Motorhead. Plus, I personally dig Lemmy's disposition, and find him to be hysterical.

Finally, it was time for the headliners, Megadeth, to take the stage. My God, what a lackluster performance this show was. My biggest gripe with Dave Mustaine is that he never seems to put any energy into his shows and is just going through the motions, and this was the worst example of this that I have ever seen. The set, which opened with "Trust," was stale and boring, and basically the same set that I have seen them play many times before. The vocals were low in the mix, but when you could hear Dave, he sounded like he was just whining into the microphone. Honestly, I could not wait for the show to end. The rest of the band are impressive, but when the frontman is a dud, there isn't much you can do to save the show.

If I had to grade this show, it would be a D+ or C- at best. I've been to many shows, and this one just simply lacked a spark that made it interesting or fun. That being said, I do think I am in the minority with my opinion, because the show had to be close to a sellout and the crowd was loving Megadeth. Maybe they see something that I don't...

Did you catch the Gigantour this year?