A Week of Kix (and Friends): The Blues Vultures

Our week of Kix and friends continues. So far we've looked at a couple of the band's best albums, I've showed you some of my favorite videos and we've talked about Funny Money. Today, a look at the Blues Vultures. 

The main side project of Ronnie Younkins, the Blues Vultures also features guitarist Rich Moxley and alternating musicians in the bass and drum roles.

So far, the Blues Vultures have released one album called Cheap Guitars & Honky Tonk Bars. The album isn't Glam, but it is chocked full of great songs. Ronnie Younkins has a lot of talent - both as a guitarist and a singer. Plus, his hair fascinates me. Please believe Ronnie's hair has absolutely nothing to do with Cheap Guitars & Honky Tonk Bars, but I'll mention it anyway: I can't recall the last time I saw a person have that much hair. I mean, it's Rapunzel long! How does he wash it? More importantly, how does he play without his long locks getting tangled in his guitar strings? Sorry for the side step, but I had to get that out of my system.

Back to Cheap Guitars & Honky Tonk Bars.  I haven't had this album very long, but I'm pleased to admit it is on iTunes for easy download so you should purchase it and give it a shot. The iTunes classification is "country" but that's not correct. The Blues Vultures are definitely a blues/Glam infusion - there are influences across many music genres here. Props to Ronnie to staying true to his love for the blues. You can hear a lot of blues riffs in Kix tunes. The Blues Vultures just expound on those riffs.

The best songs on Cheap Guitars & Honky Tonk Bars? The title track for sure and I also dig "I'm Goin' to Pieces." Both songs I just mentioned sound about as different as night and day. My favorite track period?  That's easy: "My Baby Up and Left Me."  A true blues throwback, the song sounds like something my guitar teacher would demand I learn for better fundamental understanding. Plus the song just plain rips. Like Kix, the Blues Vultures are able to easily transform their sound and lyrical quality in the same album. Truly the mark of good musicians.

I'll be honest: the chances of me discovering the Blues Vultures without  the Kix connection would probably rank in the slim to none category. Since I like music of all genres - and you already know I enjoy Bluegrass - it's not a stretch that I quite enjoy the Blues Vultures as well. I suggest you give the Blues Vultures a shot. Go ahead, expand your musical horizons.

www.bluesvultures.com
www.myspace.com/thebluesvultures

Above photo from the band's official Myspace page. No copyright assumed.

What Is This?

Jpot Entertainment Proudly Presents Rock Gone Wild 2009

ALGONA, IOWA (September 9, 2008) - Jpot Entertainment is proud to announce Rock Gone Wild music festival. The festival, sure to be Iowa's preeminent music destination of 2009, will feature more than 50 rock legends on two stages over four days. The festival is slated for August 20-23, 2009.

Already confirmed is a special reunion performance by Saigon Kick. This will be the band's only festival appearance in 2009. An entire festival lineup is coming in the months ahead.

Jpot Entertainment has recently teamed up with some of the biggest names in the music industry to present the largest music event in the Midwest.

Rock Gone Wild will take place at the Freedom Park festival grounds, located at 2507- 160^th Avenue in Algona, Iowa. While Algona is a rural community, the area is close to many hotels and both the Des Moines and Minneapolis airports are easily accessible.

To obtain a special code and to purchase pre-sale tickets, please join www.fevertalk.net. This online community is home to hundreds of die hard music fans. Rock Gone Wild and www.fevertalk.net are not associated with Catch the Fever Music Festivals.

Rock Gone Wild features three ticket levels to fit every budget. Information on platinum, VIP and general admission seating is available at www.rockgonewild.com or www.tickets.rockgonewild.com .

Rock now. Rock on. Rock wild.

A Week of Kix (and Friends) Hot Wire Classic Album Review

If you are looking for one of the ten best Glam albums of the classic era - look no further than Hot Wire. Kix released the album in 1991. One look at that date and you know where I'm heading: Hot Wire got lost in the grunge a' love shuffle. Damn shame too.










Track list:

Hot Wire
Girl Money
Luv-a-Holic
Tear Down the Walls
Bump the La La
Rock and Roll Overdose
Cold Chills
Same Jane
Pants on Fire (Liar, Liar)
Hee Bee Jee Bee Crush

Every song on this disc is a chameleon, but stays true to Glam roots. The production is top notch - probably the best of all the Kix albums. I would say this is because the band had some money after Blow My Fuse - except they had such a horrible contract with Atlantic, I'm not sure this is the case. Also, Atlantic shoved them to some off-shoot division for Hot Wire anyway. Way to be supportive big record executives!

It's hard to pick a favorite song on Hot Wire so I won't limit myself to just one. I love the album's title track, "Tear Down the Walls," "Cold Chills," and "Same Jane."

"Tear Down the Walls" is better than "Don't Close Your Eyes" when it comes to a ballad. In fact, "Tear Down the Walls" might just be one of the best power ballads of the entire genre. Too bad the only people that know the song are the people who read Bring Back Glam! everyday.

"Cold Chills" has a 60s war protest - meets Rolling Stones vibe. The song is downright creepy and that is why it is unique. Yeah, "Cold Chills" is Glam, but with many layers. The lyrics are more complicated than traditional Kix - there's a story going on here, people. I'm listening to the song again while I write this review. I swear "Paint it Black" is going on under the Kix riff. I'm going to investigate the origins of this song, but I digress. By the way, you can also hear "Cold Chills" on the Wayne's World soundtrack.

Now, "Same Jane" rocks my world. I like the promo video for the track, too. While "Tear Down the Walls" and "Cold Chills" deviate a little from the Glam path, "Same Jane" steers the east coast boys right back on the big hair track. No over thinking here - just a fun rock song and a live standard.

The album's title track has that heavy introduction - a reason why the band usually plays this song first live. You've probably seen the video for "Hot Wire." The song is, after all, one of the band's most famous.

You know, there are days when I just wish I was better at anything. Remember kids, I play bass. I can barely play one chord on my husband's guitar, the old joke being that bass players are stupid because we only have (traditionally) four strings to manage. I'll admit picking up a six string guitar flusters me. Still, I sometimes have a random dream that I'll walk into my neighborhood Guitar Center, pick up an axe and play the beginning of "Hee Bee Jee Bee Crush" and walk out. Sure, that's irrational. Those people at Guitar Center make me feel inadequate! Anyway, this fantasy should tell you I hold "Hee Bee Jee Bee Crush" in high regard. The blues introduction is great and more advanced than I'll ever be able to master.

You can purchase Hot Wire here.

Here's the video for "Hot Wire:"

Here's "Same Jane:"

Here's "Tear Down the Walls" (and no, this isn't a video - just the song):

A Week of Kix (and Friends): Funny Money Album Review

The chance of Kix recording a new album seems pretty bleak these days. This isn't to say much of the band isn't working on new music. In fact, all members of Kix are involved in active side projects. Today, we'll look at Steve Whiteman's side project Funny Money. The other members of Funny Money are guitarist Rob Galpin, bassist Mark Schenker  and drummer Jimmy Chalfant.  Mark and Jimmy are both members of Kix as well. 

Funny Money has four albums, the most recent is Stick It, released in 2007. In addition to his bass duties, Mark produced and engineered the disc. Beau Hill did the mixing. The album tracks:

By The Balls
Hot On Your Heels
Crush
Big Bang Boom
All Tied Up
Fool's Confession
Slow To Blow
Nowhere At All
Play Me Like A Rhythm
Thousand Thank Yous
Weeds And Roses
About Women

I hear "By the Balls" a lot on XM 41 "The Boneyard." In fact, the first time I heard the song I thought it was Kix. To be honest, the entire album sounds like Kix period, but that is to be expected when  the singer has such a  distinct voice.

There are a lot of great tracks here. Some of my favorites are "All Tied Up," "About Women," and "Big Bang Boom." These tracks in particular feature a nice, crunchy guitar tone. Over all, Stick It has a big sound, fairly close to Hot Wire and Blow My Fuse.

Steve Whiteman's voice is interesting. I'm not really sure how he hits his high notes, but Stick It proves that he still has his talent. There doesn't seem to be any straining here - and you and I both know that some of our favorite Glam artists just don't sound as good as they did back in the day.

"Slow to Blow" is good and bluesy. The track also features one of Steve's signature "talk raps." The other day my husband had an epiphany. He said "You know, every Kix song is about sex." I just snickered and said, "Listen to Funny Money, too!"

The bottom line is that Stick It is just fun, basic rock n' roll. There's a lot of energy here and the album just sounds good. Isn't that all any of us want at the end of the day?

Click here to order Funny Money releases and to see tour dates.

Here's Funny Money performing "By the Balls" live last year.

A Week of Kix (and Friends): Midnite Dynamite Classic Review

A week of Kix (and friends) picks up steam today as we look back at one of the band's classic albums.  Kix released Midnite Dynamite in 1985. The record features many of the band's most famous songs - including my favorite "Cold Shower." To refresh your memory, the track listing:

Midnite Dynamite
Red Hot (Black & Blue)
Bang Bang (Balls of Fire)
Layin' Rubber
Walkin' Away
Scarlet Fever
Cry Baby
Cold Shower
Lie Like a Rug
Sex

A lot of people compare Kix to AC/DC, but I think with Midnite Dynamite, the band sounds a little more like Aerosmith. Maybe it's the blues and the harmonica...or maybe it's just because this album is near perfection from start to finish.

Now, I'm sure you already know "Cold Shower," "Sex," and the album's title track if you stumbled across this website. Do you know the ballad "Walkin' Away?" It has that quintessential 80s movie song feel. I mean, seriously. "Walkin' Away" sounds like it would fit right on the soundtrack of Working Girl. The song is, after all, just that good. To the naysayers, yes "Walkin' Away" sounds more dated than a lot of other Kix tunes. I dare you to write a better song - and I'm pretty sure you can't play the guitar solo, either.

Kip Winger fans already know he helped write "Bang Bang (Balls of Fire)." This song could have been a single - if the record buying public had bothered to pay attention to Midnite Dynamite in the first place. A quick search of the Recording Industry Association of America's(RIAA) online database tells me that Kix only has one platinum record to their credit - for Blow My Fuse. That award distinction was granted in 2000. I would think that Midnite Dynamite would have earned at least gold status by now, but I guess I was wrong. 

I just told you that "Cold Shower" is my favorite Kix tune - so it stands to reason it's also my favorite track on Midnite Dynamite. The track is a bizarre little ditty with some rock-rap and a cappella moves thrown in for good measure. Plus, the bass is very prominent.

I've only seen Kix in concert twice, but I'll venture out on a limb here and guess that "Sex" has been a live staple since this album was released all those years ago. You know, songs can be good on different levels. Sometimes the track has good writing and less than stellar solos. Sometimes the guitar parts are much stronger than the lyrics, thus allowing the band to hide behind the actual music. "Sex" is a song that translates well, both on recording and live. Obviously by the title, there's no complicated discussion going on here - just a darn good song and brilliant choice to end Midnite Dyanmite.

If you like 70s rock, then you probably like (or will learn to love) "Lie Like a Rug." The song sounds like it was written for an arena performance - and maybe it was! This song is gritty and Midnite Dynamite over all is just more in-your-face than, say, Blow My Fuse. I like my Glam dirty and on the rocks. 

You can purchase Midnite Dynamite here.

Here's the video for "Cold Shower:"

A Week of Kix (and Friends)

It's high time I did another special series around here - and this go 'round we're focusing on Kix - and all the affiliated bands such as Funny Money, The Blues Vultures and Rhino Bucket.

It's interesting how I came to fall in love with Kix. I was always aware of Kix and that "Don't Close Your Eyes" was the band's biggest single. I also knew a few other tunes, but since I'm not from the east coast and the band never got really huge, I was largely in the dark to their sheer brilliance. Then came Rocklahoma 2008.

Rocklahoma 2008 had a whole lot of mishaps, but one very positive outcome: the world learned to love Kix. It's about time.

Since that hot July night when I stood in the pouring rain with thousands of other rock fans watching Baltimore's finest on stage, I've taken the time to really get to know Kix. Since that initial Rocklahoma performance, I've had the chance to see Kix again at Rock the Bayou. The second performance was just as special as the first. As we all know, this is rare: usually your first time at anything is the most memorable.

As I truly discover this classic Glam band all over again, I can't help but be reminded of when I was learning to love music in the first place. It's so bizarre: at 29 years old, I feel like I'm in grade school again. I went from feeling a little musically empty right before Rocklahoma to fulfilled at finally finding another band I can truly relate to on a very personal level. Sure some of the lyrics are misogynistic and I'm about as radical feminist as you can get - but this is a barrier that doesn't seem to matter when looking at the bigger picture.

I'm a writer at my core. I've always used written words to express how I really feel, but in this instance I fear my skills my fail me. Learning to love Kix has been an exercise in peaceful happiness. In a lot of ways, the band's music has kept me alive the past few weeks. Do not take what I just wrote lightly. I mean everything I write here to the fullest extent of my being.

I get a lot of criticism, both online and in life for being so passionate about certain bands. I feel for people who have not experienced the calm that a favorite song can provide. I'll be honest: I get tired of Aerosmith and Motley Crue, but they are still my favorites. In those rotations of angst, I allow myself some time to explore. This time I explored Kix. In the interim I discovered a new favorite band. Please believe, bands do not simply become my "favorite."

When we exercise, laugh, touch a loved one or even do drugs - our brains go through a chemical explosion to create the feeling of bliss. This "bliss" explodes in most of us when we watch a favorite band perform. Go to enough shows (or festivals) and this reaction can be 100% intoxicating. The musical overload can also numb your sensory perception, leaving you bored - or worse - burned out.

I was burned out for awhile. Exhausted with life really. Kix sort of helped me through a rough time and now I want to thank them for their music and for keeping me almost sane.

I hope you will join me in the week ahead as we explore classic albums, side projects and live performances. The week will cap with my live review of the Kix show in Baltimore, Maryland on Saturday.

For now, we'll watch a couple of live Kix videos. One thing everyone should agree upon is that Kix are a great live act. Poison may have stolen their moves - but not their thunder.

Here is "Don't Close Your Eyes" at Rock the Bayou:

Here is "Sex" from a live show in 2007:

...And just for grins, here's the jumbotron opening no one got to see at Rocklahoma because of the rain:

Jani Lane Really Out of Warrant

Twenty-four hours ago, we started hearing rumors of Jani Lane getting dumped by the rest of Warrant. Well, now it's official: he's out.

The rest of Warrant has replaced Jani with Robert Mason of Big Cock.

Jani is an addict and he needs help. That's all I have to say about that issue. I'm not - nor have I ever been - an addict, so it is not my place to judge or criticize. I thank Jani for writing some of the best songs of the Glam genre. I think he truly needs a break.

Warrant performed at Rock the Bayou just days ago. You can read my review of the performance in the archive. Yes, the show was terrible. Here is the proof that presumably sent the rest of Warrant over the edge: