SIXX: AM Tour Routing

Today is the day when we learn the special tour routing for SIXX: AM.

Not so long ago, the band featuring Nikki Sixx, DJ Ashba and James Michael decided they would hold a contest of sorts to pick the winning tour stops. SIXX: AM asked fans to vote for their city. As of this writing, I have no idea the routing or how many stops to expect. I also don't know what time today the tour stops will be announced, although I assume that information will come to me via press release. As soon as I know the information, I'll post the update here.

I'm going to guess the band will play no more than nine shows, each in a very intimate setting. I am sure at least two of the stops will be California, another in New York City, one somewhere in Texas and at least one Midwestern gig. Do I think the Midwestern gig will be in Ohio? Absolutely not.

No matter. I'll be attending one of the shows regardless of the location. That's why we have airplanes, credit cards and hotels. I actually quite like planning vacations around concerts. It gives me something to look forward to, and seeing a favorite band in an unfamiliar city seems somewhat exotic.

Many fans have created their own videos set to SIXX: AM songs. Here's a clip set to "Tomorrow."

I would say how I feel about Mr. Sixx, but I'm a married woman and it wouldn't be very fair to my husband.

Update on Tuesday, February 19, 2008 at 08:36PM by Allyson B. Crawford

My contact at 10TH Street Entertainment now says SIXX: AM will issue a press release about the tour sometime this week. Now the online petitions say voting is extended until next week - I guess that means we won't know the routing until March. Here's the link to the petition: http://ivpnewmedia.com/10thst/sixxamtoyourcity/ Happy voting!

Hail Triumph

A lot of people are really excited at the possibility of Triumph performing at Rocklahoma.

The Canadians rockers are already slated to perform the Sweden Rock Festival in June, so Rocklahoma isn't a far fetched idea. Some think these festival appearances mean a full fledged world tour. Time will tell.

Both "Magic Power" and "Lay It On the Line" play constantly on classic rock radio here in Ohio.

If you're not familiar, Rik Emmett plays guitar and sings, Mike Levine plays bass and Gil More plays drums and also sings.

I would say if the rumors are true and Triumph really does headline Rocklahoma, it's a pretty clear indication that the festival will start to move from a 100% Glam format to a more diverse mix of classic rock. I suppose that is fine as long as fans are not alienated.

I found many, many classic clips of Triumph performing live. Most clips are at least 20 years old. Being a child of history, this excites me much. I had no idea Triumph played the U.S. Festival 1983. If only I had a time capsule...

I digress.

Looking over the band's history, I must admit I am humbled. I didn't know Triumph had quite so many songs or fans. Moreover, those fans are rabid. The message board on the band's official website is crazy, as are comments below every YouTube clip.

Here's Triumph performing "Magic Power" live at the 1983 U.S. Festival.

Here's "Lay It On the Line" from the same show:

Rik Emmett kills in both instances. Thoughts?

Brothers From a Different Mother?

 

Isn't this funny? My husband discovered the amazing similarities between Jeff Blando (Slaughter) and Billy Ray Cyrus (you know, the father of Miley Cyrus).

Just thought I would pass along this funny coincidence. I must admit, Billy Ray looks much better these days after ditching the giant mullet.  

Also, I didn't take the photos, so I don't make any claim to the images

Concert Itch

It's mid-February and I've got the itch: the concert itch.

In about one month, we'll start to learn of summer line-ups. Just this morning, RATT announced a summer tour in support of a new album. Either it will be clubs, or the band will take another two acts on the road as support. Since RATT toured with Poison last summer, they are out.

Yesterday, I bought tickets to Rock on the Range festival right here in Ohio. No, it's not Glam but I think it will be a great two days of music, especially in May. A sort of kick-off to summer if you will.

I despise the cold. It's pretty evident I should be living and working on the West Coast. Perhaps in a couple years. For now, I'm stuck in a frozen tundra that is the Midwest. Each bitterly cold day I catch myself dreaming about summer concerts.

I live for concerts. They tend to make my summer.

So far all I have on tap is Rock on the Range and Rocklahoma. I looked up many other American festivals last night, but nothing interested me enough to fly across the country. It was all Indie or Alternative garbage. This is why I'm hoping for a stunningly large scale tour by a major band.

I want a surprise.

It was a huge deal when the Van Halen tour was announced. People went crazy! I saw them in October and I'll be seeing them again next month.

I'm not sure there are any bands left - save Led Zeppelin - that can give us that sort of excitement or surprise. Perhaps that is why I've taken to love festivals so much?

If I had the money, I would go to Wacken Open Air, Sweden Rock Festival, Rock am Ring and Rocklahoma all in the same summer. That just isn't an option, although I'd love to save my pennies and go to both Sweden Rock and Rocklahoma next year.

Live music makes my heart sing.

Animate Me (or Not)

Do you like when bands make 100% animated videos? I have mixed feelings on the matter. Typically, I like to see the band so I can match faces to songs. It's psychological in one aspect. In another, it is directly proportional to the basis of all human communication: we like to look at one another when we speak. Often, I must look at someone to understand what they are saying. I don't have hearing problems, but I find I can comprehend better this way. Perhaps this direct connection of band-through camera-through television is just the same?

I suppose someone has conducted a study on the matter before, but I guess it's true that this sort of telecommunication probably did help a generation get really addicted to music. Seeing videos and hearing songs is really no different than watching a sitcom or late night monologue as long as the relationship works.

I guess in this school of thought, then, animated videos really are less effective forms of communication. Of course, when we're talking about videos we mean communicating a product, which is the song. That communication - if reliable - would result in album sales.

I can think of two animated videos right now off the top of my head. One is Avenged Sevenfold's new video for "A Little Piece of Heaven." The clip is a deliciously nasty little piece of art, Tim Burton style. The other video is "Hell on High Heels" by Motley Crue. I know there are plenty more but my mind went completely blank.

If you have about nine minutes to kill, here's the Avenged Sevenfold clip:

Now, here's Motley's venture into the art world.

My guess is both bands felt they couldn't adequately portray the song's meaning if they were in the clip. I get where A7X is coming from: necrophilia is a hard thing to act. As for Motley, I think they were taking the easy way out during the depressing New Tattoo tour. I also think they were trying to reach out to a new fan base while not alienating their die hard loyalists.

In some respects, I think animated videos hurt bands - especially Glam artists. No other Metal genre is so closely aligned with both looks and talent. Thoughts?

This Romeo is Bleeding...

Today is St. Valentine's Day. Originally observed by Catholics, the holiday surrounds as many as three "Saint Valentines." All three were martyrs. Much like all great literature, all our modern holiday traditions come from the Middle Ages.

It's customary for lovers to exchange tokens: candy, notes, flowers - and yes, rings. I suppose it's also customary for the unlucky in love to feel a little bummed on this, the most romantic of holidays.

I liken most power ballads to soap operas: steamy, emotional and - usually - just the right length to make a real impact.

I don't remember what month the Bon Jovi video for "Always" premiered, but I do remember the year: 1994. I was in 7th grade, and a big Aerosmith fan. I was watching a ton of MTV at the time because the channel was still actually about music at that point, and my 'Smith were in heavy rotation. So anyway, Bon Jovi released Cross Road in 1994. The mega-selling greatest hits package featured two new songs: "Someday I'll Be Saturday Night" and "Always."

"Always" was written for the movie Romeo is Bleeding, but when the New Jersey band actually saw the film, they were abhorred at the quality and yanked the song. It was probably smart to keep "Always" as that single alone really helped push Cross Road up the charts.

The video for "Always" is clearly big budget. It's also a little nuts, but the song is about a crazed stalker, so I suppose it fits.

I know a lot of you don't like nouveau Bon Jovi. Quite frankly neither do I, but back in the day...the songs, the videos = magnifico!

I can't think of a better song for Valentine's Day than "Always." Sure, it's about the stalker like I said, but it's romantic in that "I-want-to-kill-you-if-I-can't-have-you" sort of way. Really, isn't that what St. Valentine - all three of them - would have wanted?

Enjoy this avant garde Glam classic. Yes, it's a little Eyes Wide Shut meets "Every Rose Has Its Thorn." It is, after all, Bon Jovi.

Music Ageist?

When did it become cool for rock fans to be elitist?

It's all a bit ironic, isn't it? Metal is all about counterculture, or flipping the middle finger at mainstream society. With marketing the modern music machine, commercialism seems to have chipped away the stone that is rock.

Perhaps I should clarify. When I use the term elitist here, I don't mean "of the wealthy or privileged" I mean "of a certain age."

That's right: I've noticed discrimination because of my age. Worst yet, I've actually caught myself snickering at people younger than me while at shows! I'm not proud to admit, but if some teeny booper shoves me out of the front row to get a little closer to, say, Tracii Guns, I really have to catch myself. No, I'm not a violent person. I don't have the urge to come to blows. I do, however, have the urge for an impromptu round of Trivial Pursuit:Glam Metal.  Like, if you can answer three questions about the band in front of you, you're allowed to stand in the front row.

Is it wrong I don't want faux fans in the front row? 

It's like this: I'm die hard. If I spend money to go to a show, buy albums, get some merchandise...I want to actually see the band. I don't care who your husband knows. I don't care if you have giant fake boobs - if you're not a real fan, get out of my way.

Back to age.

I'm not an ageist. I think people should be allowed to work as long as they choose. I think young kids can make inroads in corporate America. I think both older and younger employees make for a more balanced and better functioning workplace. I think Glam Metal is music for the young and young at heart.

I think if you're 14 and flipping your blonde hair in my face at a show I have the right to ask you why you like the band at hand. Is that wrong?

I don't understand "trend-hopping." I say, do what makes you happy. Study cultural anthropology when all your friends go to medical school. Buy a Prius if you care about the environment and can still afford a Mercedes. Listen to any music you choose...but please, actually know something about the band.

You already know I'm young. If you don't, let me remind you that I'm 28. I don't hide much about my life. If it's big, I write about it here. I wear glasses and die my hair jet black, both in a small effort to look a little older. When I interview musicians, they always ask me my age. The response is often met with 1) surprise,  2) trepidation and finally 3) appreciation. While I have very fond memories of Glam growing up, I didn't actually live through the "scene" like some have pointed out. I didn't live through the Salem Witch Trials either, but that didn't stop me from writing a thesis on the matter during my undergraduate days.

So here we are. Another day and just one more instance of me airing my dirty laundry for the world to see. Now you know I hate it when faux fans push their way to the barricade just to be near a "rock star." I love it even more when these same faux fans either 1) mock the band or 2)  objectify the members like pieces of meat.

Maybe this is just my pet peeve. If so, I apologize for the rant.