KIX to Open for Whitesnake

The title says it all: Kix will provide direct support for Whitesnake this summer at three Oklahoma dates.

Here are the shows:

8/4 First Council Casino with Whitesnake, Newkirk, OK

8/5 Lucky Star Casino with Whitesnake, Concho, OK

8/6 Choctaw Casino with Whitesnake, Durant, OK

This is exciting because it means KIX are continuing to book shows out of the Maryland area. Of course, I think KIX should headline. They were way better than Whitesnake at M3 this year and I suspect that to be the case in Oklahoma. There's just no competing with the energy that KIX bring to the stage and Whitesnake is using too much filler these days (yes, that means solos).

I wish I could go!

How Do You Show Your Allegiance?

How do you show allegiance to your favorite bands?

Is it from buying albums or concert tickets or traveling to far away shows? I decided the way I most show my allegiance is by buying -- and wearing -- band T-shirts.

I own shirts from all sorts of artists, from the staples like Motley and RATT to new acts like Asking Alexandria and Lady Gaga and even pop stars like Britney Spears. I love band shirts.

I have more band shirts than pairs of shoes, but I only get the coveted shirt if I really love the band. I would never drop $30 or $50 on a band I didn't really care about and I bet you are the same way. In fact, I'm not sure I've ever made an impulse-type purchase at the merchandise booth at a show. Before festivals, I always know exactly what I want and what bands are my target. Same for club and arena gigs.

For whatever reason, I always felt like wearing a band's name across my chest is worth more than me just buying the album or a concert ticket -- and I do all those things, too. Do you agree?

Guitar Master Class Giveaway -- Get You Some Skills!

If you want to play guitar or already do and need to work on your craft: heads up. GuitarMasterClass.net (GMC) is partnering with BBG! to give away several online guitar lesson packages.

But before we get to the contest, a little background on GMC. Here's a little Q&A with site founder Kristofer Dahl.

Bring Back Glam!: When did the site open?

Dahl: GuitarMasterClass,was founded March 12, 2006 by me. I'm a professional guitarist and instructor from Stockholm, Sweden.

BBG!: What was the inspiration for the site?

Dahl: The inspiration came from my idea to explore the possibilities of getting my licks heard and played on the Internet. The music scene for guitar stuff was non existent in Stockholm/Sweden. I discovered the possibilities of a site like this after uploading and sharing my music and videos on the web. The response I got from the viewers led me to developing the GMC instructional website and music community.

BBG!: How many active users do you have

Dahl: We have several thousands of active users on the site. The most important part of GMC experience is in fact the community and interaction between the instructors and fellow students.

BBG!: Can anyone teach, or what is the process to become a teacher?

Dahl: As the GMC was growing, the requirements were getting higher too! Today a GMC instructor needs to be able to produce high quality instructional video guitar lessons, to be an awesome/versatile guitarist and most important - be able to communicate with and help students on their guitar learning journey.

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Now that you know the history of GMC, it's time for the fun part! If you'd like to learn how to play guitar but don't have cash for private lessons, listen up. I'm giving away 15 six-month full access GMC memberships (each valued $150.) That's a big prize, right? All you need to do to win is send me an email - from an account you actually check- with your full legal name. Put "GMC giveaway" in the subject line and email it to allyson@bringbackglam.com by Saturday, June 11, 2011 at 11:59pm EST. If you don't put "GMC giveaway" in the subject line, your entry will be deleted. I will randomly select the winners via lottery. Good luck.

'Bittersweet Memories' -- Power Ballad?

How did I miss this song?! "Bittersweet Memories" is a song on Bullet For My Valentine's newest album Fever. A dark power ballad if I ever heard one. Do you agree?

Record Breaking Crowd at Rocklahoma 2011

Here's a release on the recent success of Rocklahoma:

A record-breaking crowd of over 35,000 fans were on hand May 27-29 to celebrate at ROCKLAHOMA 2011, the Memorial Day Weekend camp and rock festival that features a mix of the best classic bands and today’s top rock artists. ROCKLAHOMA guests enjoyed ideal mild sunny weather throughout the festival at “Catch the Fever” Festival Grounds in Pryor, OK. In addition, over $10,000 was raised at ROCKLAHOMA for the American Red Cross Joplin Tornado Relief.

“When we got involved with ROCKLAHOMA last year, the goal was to try to help reinvent the festival without alienating the long-time fans or losing the ‘magic’ that had been created,” commented Joe Litvag, executive producer of ROCKLAHOMA for AEG Live.  “In 2011 we proved that the plan is working, as the festival saw its highest attendance to date and the fans’ experience was even more over-the-top than they thought possible.  Now we’ve got to focus on topping it next year!” 

ROCKLAHOMA 2011 featured performances from top rock artists including: Mötley Crüe, Poison, Staind, Whitesnake, Seether, Papa Roach, Hinder, Saving Abel, Skillet, Sick Puppies, Sebastian Bach, Black Label Society, Drowning Pool, My Darkest Days, Rev Theory, All That Remains, Escape The Fate, Cavo, The Gracious Few (featuring members of Live and Candlebox), Hail the Villain, Pop Evil, Jonathan Tyler & the Northern Lights, Taddy Porter and many more.

“ROCKLAHOMA is a great rock n’ roll event,” noted Vince Neil of Mötley Crüe. “I played it in ‘07 and it was great to be back there and have Mötley Crüe do it. After getting warmed up at ROCKLAHOMA and in South America and Mexico we’re excited to launch this new, huge production on our headlining run in the U.S. this week.”

"We had a blast playing for the ROCKLAHOMA crowd,” said Whitesnake’s David Coverdale. “We hope we get invited back...Too much fun! Our thanks to all involved for such great hospitality."

 Staind guitarist Mike Mushok agreed: “It was really an honor to be able to play with such a diverse group of bands and be one of the headliners for what turned out to be a record-breaking year for the festival. We would like to thank both ROCKLAHOMA and especially the fans for making the night an unforgettable experience for us.”  

The media also raved about ROCKLAHOMA. John Hall of TulsaToday.com wrote that “festival organizers saved the best for last as the festival grounds were packed throughout the day on Sunday…As the sun began to set, a quick look around the festival grounds revealed a sea of people as far as the eye could see…With the festival gaining momentum each year, one can hardly wait to see what organizers have in mind for Rocklahoma 2012 (May 31, 2011).”

ROCKLAHOMA also used the mass gathering of rock fans to generate some community awareness and good will.  The festival is proud to have raised over $10,000 for the American Red Cross as part of their tornado relief efforts in nearby Joplin, MO.  Litvag added, “Not an hour went by the entire weekend where our thoughts didn’t go back to our friends in Joplin.  We’re proud of their courage, and every person on site, each fan, each worker, each artist, is happy we could do something to assist them.” 

Stay tuned to www.rocklahoma.com in the coming weeks for photo galleries of the festival.  In addition, fans who missed the opportunity to buy a t-shirt or other souvenir at the ROCKLAHOMA merch booth can purchase items online at www.rocklahoma.com.

ROCKLAHOMAis held just 45 minutes northeast of Tulsa, in Pryor, OK.  The “Catch the Fever” Festival Grounds is a premier destination for a multi-day festival and includes onsite camping with access to restrooms and shower house, a general store for campers, VIP reserved seating, hospitality areas and much more.

Established in 2007 as a classic rock destination festival with the motto “life, liberty and the pursuit of rock,” ROCKLAHOMA was revamped for 2010 as organizers teamed with AEG Live to create an event encompassing a much broader mix of classic, current and up-and-coming rock artists.  ROCKLAHOMA is proud to be presented by Bud Light.

Asking Alexandria vs. Skid Row

Raise your hand if you know the band Asking Alexandria. The English metalcore/screamo/techno band is one of my absolute new faves on the scene. At the end of last year, Asking Alexandria released an EP called Life Gone Wild. Appropriately enough, the band included two Skid Row covers on the disc: "18 and Life" and "Youth Gone Wild." (At Rock on the Range two weeks ago, I got to see Sebastian Bach perform "Youth Gone Wild" with Asking Alexandria).

The thing that surprises me about the covers is that Asking Alexandria stays very true to the originals - there isn't any screamo anywhere in these tunes. In fact, at some points, you'd be hard pressed to tell whether the singer is Sebastian Bach or Danny Worsnop. Sure, there are bits of that English accent in the lower register parts, but on the Bach-esque soaring notes, the similarities are uncanny. And the guitar work is freaking awesome.

I get that a lot of you don't like screamo and that's okay - but you might buy the two Skid Row covers to support this new band who clearly wears their influences on their collective sleeves. On their original songs, the Bullet For My Valentine and Avenged Sevenfold similarities are pretty clear. It's also clear that Asking Alexandria is a band that knows their metal - and isn't afraid to give a nod to the old standards. You know, the bands we call our favorites.

"Youth Gone Wild" by Asking Alexandria

"18 and Life" by Asking Alexandria

Steelheart, 'Black Dog,' -- New Single

Steelheart has a new single! The band has recorded a cover of the Led Zeppelin classic "Black Dog." It's awesome. Check it out. After you listen, download free from the band's website.