Who here likes the band Heavy Pettin'? I don't recall us talking about them much, but they have some decent melodic tunes. My favorite is "Rock Ain't Dead." Maybe I just like the video - but it's good stuff. Hamie, the lead singer, sure as hell has a high voice. Seriously. High. The first time I heard this band, I sort of jumped a little.
Instead of a boring Tuesday night on my couch, I've decided to actually brush my hair, put on some eye liner and head out to see UFO live, right here in Dayton, Ohio. The band is playing at McGuffy's, our little dive rock bar that hosts some pretty decent acts. Tons of Glam and hard rock bands have played McGuffys in the past and the venue continues to book solidly into the future. With newer clubs closing all the time, it's good to see a business doing well in this down economy.
The last time I saw UFO live was at Rocklahoma 2008. Phil Mogg was a jolly character with boundless energy - he acted half his age! We'll see how he does tonight. Hopefully, my friends and I will hear "Doctor, Doctor."
Someone on Metal Sludge posted these awesome clips of KISS' Paul Stanley and Gene Simmons on Oprah back in 1987. I've never seen this episode until now. It's good stuff: Gene and Paul are over-the-top ridiculous as usual.
Married...With Children is easily the most Glam television sitcom of all time. After all, the show debuted in 1987 - right as heavy metal was at its most mainstream, and therefore, famous.
If you've never seen a single episode of Married...with Children, I'm sorry. Seriously, go to YouTube right now and watch any episode. I spent a lot of time with the Bundy family during my youth. The show was on Fox on Sunday evenings and I always watched.
Kelly Bundy (played by Christina Applegate) is portrayed as a heavy metal hottie. She lives for the Glam and tons of the jokes center around Metal acts, both real and fictional.
In Season six, Anthrax joins in the fun. I stumbled across "My Dinner with Anthrax" last night thanks to YouTube. You can watch the entire clip here.
Basically, Kelly and her brother Bud win a party with Anthrax...and hilarity ensues. I definitely remember watching this episode way back in 1992. I was sitting in my bedroom, watching my small T.V. because my parents didn't like Married...With Children. (Check out Kelly's top. I totally had a black dress around this time with the exact same sleeves. Also, be on the lookout for a long-sleeved Rip magazine magazine T-shirt. Seriously).
Here's just the Anthrax performance part.
If you click the link above and watch the whole show (and I hope you do) be sure to watch until the very end. Trust me.
If you enjoyed the Anthrax episode...you'll probably like "Rock and Roll Girl," too! The episode features Kelly as a "video babe" for The Guttercats.
I don't watch the Ellen show and for the record, I don't like the idea of Ellen DeGeneres being Paula Abdul's replacement on American Idol. I just can't imagine Idol without Paula, but I digress.
I'm a subscriber to Joe Perry's online newsletter. Last night, the owner of the website blasted out Joe's appearance earlier this week on Ellen. As much as I wanted to hate it, I couldn't. Joe is just too cool for school. Watch for yourself (the Joe part starts around the two minute mark).
When Vains of Jenna released The Art of Telling Lies (RLS/Raw Noize) last month, I was cautiously optimistic. I'm a big fan of the band and their debut Lit Up/Let Down. Would The Art of Telling Lies measure up? Yeah. It's amazing. Actually, it's my favorite album of the year so far.
Here's the track list:
Everybody Loves You When You're Dead Mind Pollution Refugee I Belong To Yesterday Paper Heart Get It On Enemy In Me Better Off Alone I Don't Care The Art of Telling Lies
Basically, I dig all the tracks - but there are a few I like more than others. I love the title track, the cover of "Refugee" and "Enemy in Me." In all instances, the band displays real growth: it's clear Vains of Jenna didn't just waste their time in the U.S. on the last 'go round. Sure, the band toured non-stop and then went home to Sweden, but there was clearly some active songwriting going on. The quality of The Art of Telling Lies is so far above Lit Up/Let Down it's almost breathtaking - in short, the new album is rock solid.
Why would VOJ cover Tom Petty's "Refugee?" I guess to pay homage to a classic rock master. No matter, it's fantastic: dare I say better than the original? There's something both strong and melancholy about Nicki Kin's guitar tone on this track that makes it memorable. I found myself repeating "Refugee" over and over while listening on my iPod.
Vains of Jenna are playing shows all over the U.S. through the end of the year. Go see them and buy the new album. If you're a true Glam fan, this is what you want: infectious hooks, great guitar solos and awesome lyrics courtesy of Lizzy DeVine.
Wednesday, October 14, 2009 at 12:01AM 