Behind the Scenes of 'November Rain'

Have you ever watched the "Making of 'November Rain?'" The clips are awesome to a music geek like me. I really like to know how stuff works - especially when we're talking about television or video production. I worked in television and I'm still amazed at how directors can manipulate technology and staging to create scenes that are out of this world.

As we all know, "November Rain" is an epic song - and so the video had to be just as awesome. The budget was huge - and, in my opinion, totally worth every penny. Not sure if you've ever watched the official 1993 release "The Making of 'November Rain'" but here it is. Well worth your time.

Part 1 & 2

Part 3

Part 4

Part 5

Part 6

Rock n' America Today - Follow Me on Twitter

I'll be on site at Rock n' America today, catching bands like The Sweet, Great White and Twisted Sister. If you want immediate updates, follow me on Twitter @bringbackglam. I'll be tweeting fun facts and crazy happenings all weekend long.  As always, I'll post reviews and photos of the show, too. Post times will be erratic - so check back frequently.

A Hot Night with Dream Theater

On July 10, 2010, the Dream Theater tour came to the Palladium in Worcester, Massachusetts with Charred Walls of the Damned and Don Jamieson opening.  Now, I am not a big Dream Theater fan, but since I was home in Connecticut and my wife and kids were visiting family in California, I decided to join my friends and go to the show.  Now, please do not misunderstand my statement regarding Dream Theater...I certainly appreciate their ability as musicians, and considering I am a drummer, watching the phenom known as Mike Portnoy was intriguing, but I just would not call myself a "fan." I had seen Dream Theater in Hartford years ago, but walked out half way through their set, as the sound was terrible at the club and it destroyed the ability to fully appreciate what they were doing as musicians.  I was hoping for better this time.

 

My review here on BBG! is more a review of the venue than the show, as that is what stood out to me most at the end of the night. The Palladium is a large, general admission venue (probably about 2500 total capacity), with a tiered main floor and a balcony above. By the time I made my way in (we had a few beers across the street beforehand and hung out with Don Jamieson for a while at the bar), the place was packed. Make no mistake about it...the "music nerds" come out of the woodwork for Dream Theater.  I would estimate that the show was close to a sell out (as there was plenty of room on the balcony). So, in a word, here is my review...HOT!  Upon entering the venue, I went down to the floor where it was overcrowded and about 20 degrees hotter than it was in the lobby. It was so crowded and uncomfortable, that I decided to check out the balcony, but since heat rises, it was just as hot up there. I stayed up there for Don Jamieson's act and the first couple of CWOTD songs, but then could not stand the heat any longer, so I went back to the floor.  I suffered through the rest of the CWOTD set on the floor, and then waited for Dream Theatre to take the stage. Here is where the story gets sad. I could only stand the heat through about four songs and then made the decision to duck out the show and go back to the bar across the street to wait for my friends. Honestly, at this stage in my life, I am not inclined to be completely uncomfortable and miserable just because I paid for a ticket.

 

I left completely baffled, as I do not understand why the Palladium would not keep their venue at a tolerable temperature. It was perhaps the worst concert experience of my life, and I am not inclined to ever return to that venue (unless it is a show I NEED to see and would willingly suffer through the heat).  Bottom line, I have now walked out on two Dream Theater shows.  I do not think I will ever witness a full set, which is a shame, because they were putting on a great show.

 

So my brief show "review" is as follows:  Don Jamieson was funny and is a great guy; CWOTD was not very memorable and their songs were average (and I am a huge Stern fan, so I was looking forward to watching Christy drum); and Dream Theater were technically amazing and were putting on a great show.

 

The silver lining of leaving the show early was that I went back across to the street to the bar I was at earlier that day, and stumbled upon a cover band playing. While the majority of the band was good, there was one player who was exceptional.  The band is called "Under the Coverz" and their guitar-player (Darlene) was phenomenal. I spent the rest of my night in Worcester amazed by her ability to both shred on the guitar and to nail the songs on which she was singing lead. 

 

So am I just being too much of a wuss, leaving a show because it was too hot? Have you done the same thing?

Guns n' Roses Will Play the Rock n' Rev Festival (Hint: It's in America!)

The inaugural Rock N' Rev festival, scheduled for Aug. 9-13 to coincide with the Sturgis Motorcycle Rally in South Dakota, just made a major announcement: Guns n' Roses will play the festival.

Holy Glam!

The festival will officially be held at Monkey Rock USA in Sturgis.

The Monkey Rock site is on 25 acres. In addition to Guns n' Roses, a whole slew of other bands will play including Daughtry, Alice In Chains, Stone Temple Pilots, Godsmack, Skillet, 3 Doors Down, Hinder, Three Days Grace, Wolfmother, Eagles Of Death Metal, Hellyeah, Creed, Pop Evil and more.

Now, here's the amazing thing: tickets start at $45 and a 5 day pass is $150 bucks. Since I've never seen Guns n' Roses, I'd consider them worth the price of admission alone. From what I understand, there are some VIP packages too. I'm no biker, but someday I want to experience Sturgis. It's one of those "do before you die" sort of things. If I wasn't already committed to Rock n' America and Lollapalooza, I'd be at this fest for sure.

So, how late will Axl and the rest of Guns n' Roses take the stage at this event? I'm saying four hours late minimum.

Lynch Mob Embarks On A Summer Tour

HOLLYWOOD, CA (July 19, 2010) – Lynch Mob is getting ready to embark on a summer tour in support of their current release “Smoke and Mirrors” on Frontiers Records. The band line-up for this tour consists of George Lynch (shred master), Oni Logan (vox), Michael Devin (bassologist) and Brian Tichy (time-keeper).

After seventeen long years singer Oni Logan and guitar wizard George Lynch found their way back together and again show their amazing abilities in some killer new Hard Rock songs.” I would say this new record "Smoke and Mirrors", is the record we should have put out as a follow up to "Wicked Sensation"...better late than never I guess...”, says Lynch presenting the new record.

July 20              HOB – GL Clinic Show            Houston, TX                 
July 22              Dos Amigos                           Odessa, TX
July 23              Trees                                     Dallas, TX
July 24              Scout Bar                               San Antonio, TX
July 25              Zoo Amphitheater                 Oklahoma, OK
July 28              The Altar Bar                          Pittsburgh, PA
July 29              The Starland Ballroom           Sayerville, NJ
July 30              Jaxx                                       Springfield, VA
July 31              The Filmore                            New York, NY
Aug 01             Crazy Donkey                         Framingdale, NY
Aug 02             Eleanor Rigby’s                       Jermyn, PA
Aug 03             House of Blues                       Cleveland, OH
Aug 04             Scatz NightClub                      Middleton, WI
Aug 06             Club Vegas                             Salt Lake City, UT
Aug 07             The New Oasis                       Sparks, NV
Aug 08             Tower Theater                        Fresno, CA
Aug 11             Studio Seven                          Seattle, WA
Aug 12             Dante’s                                   Portland, OR
Aug 13             Last Day Saloon                     Santa Rosa, CA
Aug 14             Sky City Amphitheater            Pueblo of Acoma, NM

Get back to real rock with Lynch Mob’s new album “Smoke and Mirrors.”  

Alice Cooper Live Review

On Sunday, July 18 I was fortunate enough to see Alice Cooper live at Fraze Pavilion in Kettering, Ohio. I went to the show with my husband and friends Rob (form Hard Rock Hideout) and JT (from Hard Rock Nights). So yeah, I was with famous people.

Alice is always great live. He's definitely worth the ticket price so if you notice him coming through your town - just go to the show. He - and his beautiful band - never phone it in. Ever. Oh, and I say "beautiful" band because - good grief - the musicians playing with Alice are truly gorgeous men. Seriously. My male readers can stop rolling their collective eyes now.

The show opened with "School's Out" -- and that was the ending, too! I've never seen this before, but that's okay because it worked and everyone seemed to love it. "Elected" was right before "School's Out" in the encore, another one of my favorites. I always love when Alice comes trotting out with the American flag and acts like a politician. I'd vote for Alice for president!

There were other favorites too, including "Poison" -- which was very early in the set. Then there was my beloved "Vengence is Mine" in which Alice climbed atop a staircase dressed like a big spider. There was "Dirty Diamonds," "Billion Dollar Babies,""I'm Eighteen" and lots of death. Well, the tour is called "Theatre of Death" so Alice has to die a few times, right?

Keri Kelli is one of my favorite guitarists. The guy is amazing live and when I see Alice, I make it a point to sit on Keri's side of the stage. So, there I was about five rows in, watching Keri play it down. Man, it was muggy Sunday night and it didn't take long for the entire band to become a sweaty mess. They kept right on - at one time Keri was so sweaty I couldn't believe he could even see well enough to walk around stage, let alone play, but it was all good.

I was totally bummed because I wanted to catch Alice's cane (who doesn't?) but I was on the side and he threw the prop to the fans in the direct middle of the stage. Same for the dirty diamond necklaces and money. Someday I have big plans for catching an Alice cane and mounting it on my wall.

In case you're wondering, Fraze Pavilion is super small - probably 4500 seats - and a totally great place to see a big show like Alice. The staging all worked nicely and I felt super close. The sound was also perfect - no distortion, thanks in part to super strict sound regulations instituted by the city. Alice's curtain couldn't drop on its own, but his ghoulish stage hands pulled it down just fine. Glittery letters spelled out "Alice" across the stage and the band had to weave in and out of the letters to move. There was also a semi-slutty nurse that pranced around the stage and tormented Alice. All in all, it was a good time. I just wish I'd hear "It's Hot Tonight" live someday. Oh well I guess.

'Nobody's Fault' vs. 'Nobody's Fault'

When it comes to rock songs, I firmly believe "Nobody's Fault" by Aerosmith is the gold standard - bar none. Pay attention to the lyrics - the song is so relevant to the world we live in today, it's scary and amazing that the track was written three decades ago! "Nobody's Fault" has been covered by a slew of bands - most recently by Vince Neil on his new album Tattoos & Tequila. Problem is, I don't care for Vince's version much. Actually, I hate it. The guitar work is annoying and Vince sounds too processed. I do, however, love Testament's cover of "Nobody's Fault." In fact, I think it comes closest to rivaling the original for rock brilliance. Do you agree? Listen and weigh in below.

Vince Neil version

Testament version

The original version from Aerosmith Rocks