Must Buy: Avenged Sevenfold Live in the LBC/Diamonds in the Rough

If you think Avenged Sevenfold suck, you are wrong.

If you think Avenged Sevenfold are devoid of songwriting talent, you are wrong.

If you think Avenged Sevenfold put on a boring live show, you are wrong.

Just last week the California rockers released Live in the LBC/Diamonds in the Rough. The DVD/CD package chronicles the bands headline appearance on the 2007 Taste of Chaos tour. That's the LBC part. As you can imagine, the DVD chronicles the band's live Taste of Chaos stop in Long Beach, California. Diamonds in the Rough is some rare, previously unreleased tracks. 

I saw Taste of Chaos 2007, so it is pretty cool to own a professionally shot DVD of the show. All the famous A7X songs are here including  "Afterlife," "Beast and the Harlot," "Critical Acclaim," "Gunslinger" and my favorite "Unholy Confessions."

A word about "Unholy Confessions:" I think this may be the most perfect Metal song of the entire decade. Of course we've got a couple years left - but it's going to take a lot to beat "Unholy Confessions" in my mind. If you're not familiar with the song, it's on the studio recording Waking the Fallen.

Live in the LBC  has great sound and beautiful cinematography.  I love the camera pans and all the different stage angles. The band looks beautiful in every light! Even more impressive is just how tight their live presence is on this DVD. I remember being impressed while at Taste of Chaos - but seeing the show again makes me even more appreciative of the band's skill - especially when it comes to intricate guitar work.

When I saw the Taste of Chaos tour, there was an honest to Glam blizzard in Ohio. I remember the band mentioning all the snow on the video that rolled right before they took the stage. Sure enough, all those pre-show videos are included in the DVD as "extra features." Pretty cool to hear Avenged Sevenfold talk about little old Dayton, Ohio on their DVD!

Diamonds in the Rough has some good cuts. It seems like everyone and his Glam brother has covered Pantera's walk... and Avenged Sevenfold are now on that list too. Thing is, their version is just darn good. The band also does more than justice to Iron Maiden's "Flash of the Blade." Other songs include "Girl I Know," "Crossroads," and "Tension."

Buy Live in the LBC/Diamonds in the Rough here.

Here's "Afterlife" live from Long Beach

Talk About a Super Group

Do you know the bang Big Noize? It's a super group featuring Carlos Cavazo (Quiet Riot), Vinny Appice (Black Sabbath, Dio), Joe Lynn Turner (Deep Purple, Rainbow), Phil Soussan (Vince Neil, Billy Idol bands). The band also features keyboard player Teddy Zig Zag Andreadis (Guns n' Roses, Alice Cooper). Most recently, the famous musicians in Big Noize traveled to Iraq and Kuwait, playing some music for our troops. Surely our troops need Metal and Glam! Big Noize are hitting the road again, playing December dates around the world and stopping in Peru, Argentina, Chile and more.

The cool thing about Big Noize is that they play the "greatest hits" from their respective bands. This means Quiet Riot or Black Sabbath fans can go to a Big Noize show and sort of get the best of both worlds. I suppose that's the goal of most super groups: the entertain both the fans the performing musicians.

I wonder if the future of Glam is the super group? Think about it: most of our beloved musicians are either in new "super groups" or are performing regularly with other name musicians. It's a way for the musicians - and the genre - to remain viable. The band Big Cock are essentially a super group. Guitarist David Henzerling spent his early Glam days with King Kobra and Keel. Drummer John Covington played with the Greg Leon Invasion. Singer Robert Mason was with Lynch Mob (and is now singing for Warrant). The Sin City Sinners features a revolving door of famous Glam musicians, the constant being former Faster Pussycat guitarist Brent Muscat. ...Then there's Scrap Metal featuring the Nelson twins, Mark Slaugher, Eric Martin, Kelly Keagy...

Even SIXX: AM is a supergroup of sorts and not just because the band features Nikki Sixx. No, SIXX: AM is a super group because DJ Ashba and James Michael are accomplished musicians in their own right - who both just happen to write for Motley Crue.

Damn Yankees formed at an odd time for super groups. The band, featuring Ted Nugent, Jack Blades, Tommy Shaw and Michael Cartellone created Glam at the apex of the hey day...and into the fall of the supreme genre. I think if Damn Yankees reformed, they could do quite well have a good touring future.

So, what do you think: are super groups the future of Glam?

If you're not familiar, here's a clip by Big Noize

It's Hot Tonight

Have you ever been haunted by a song? You know, when you can't get the riff or lyrics out of your head?

The other day I had Alice Cooper's "It's Hot Tonight" going through my head so bad I was literally scratching the walls. The song wasn't driving me nuts in a bad way. No, I just had to learn the song on my husband's guitar.

Please believe I am not skilled at the guitar. I'm a functioning bass player - but guitar strings are closer together and that is hard! Still, I knew I wouldn't be able to sleep unless I sorted out at least the opening riff to "It's Hot Tonight."

I've had "It's Hot Tonight" going through my head off and on since seeing Alice Cooper live at Rock the Bayou. That song has a great riff! So, I panicked, got online and started hunting for tabs.

After playing the introductory riff repeatedly for about 45 minutes, I got it down. By "got it" I mean the song was recognizable. I'm not ready for my close-up or anything. Still, it was a triumphant little evening for me as I never play Eric's guitar. I'm pretty much a bass girl. Buy hey, you gotta branch out from time to time.

After I figured out the opening riff, I was set. The song was no longer haunting my every move. I wasn't humming the words in business meetings. Or at stop signs. Or in the grocery.

Have you ever been haunted by a song? What was your solution?

By the way, here's "It's Hot Tonight." Talk about a great song!

Are Concerts Better Without an Opener?

I can't remember seeing too many shows that didn't feature some sort of opening act. George Michael didn't tour with support and it seems AC/DC are going solo on their fast approaching tour.

Sometimes an opener makes sense. Crue Fest took a bunch of support acts, created a mini-moving festival and helped hype Motley Crue in one tidy package.

Sometimes an opener makes zero sense. Case in point, the recent Van Halen reunion tour featured Bob Marley's son as the opener. That's right: I can't even remember the guy's name. No, "Bob Marley's son" wasn't bad - he was actually quite good. It's just his performance was out-of-place and largely ignored. In other words, a giant waste of time that just cost the tour more money and probably tacked a couple extra bucks on fan seats.

There are those rare occasions when opening acts actually drive tour ticket sales. I'm not talking about dual headline events, but true openers that are actually famous in their own right. The Rolling Stones had just about every famous musician/band on the planet open for them during their lengthy Bigger Bang tour. Openers included Metallica, Motley Crue and Pearl Jam. I'm sure some fans bought tickets just for opening band and then stayed for the Rolling Stones. In this instance, the opening was more than justified. Of course, ticket prices for A Bigger Bang were astronomical (pun intended) - but that's another article.

On "normal" tours I think opening acts are basically a waste. Sure I recently had the chance to see Billy Idol and Steve Stevens in the opening slot for Def Leppard and that was great - but there was hardly anyone in the audience and I think that is hard for musicians. 

An empty room is hard for fans, too. I try to get to shows as early as possible. I don't like missing music, but sometimes this just can't be helped. Concerts happen during the week and I work. Shows are also a social experience and I like to talk to people, have dinner first or just generally not feel  "rushed." Lastly, it seems - in general - people just don't care about paying attention to opening acts. At the end of the day, it's sort of like "why bother?"

What do you think? Are concerts better with - or without - opening bands?

Bands to See Before You Die

Some people make lists of things they want to accomplish before they die. Others - like me - make lists of bands I want to see before I go gently into that good night.

I was thinking about my list this past weekend. There are still a lot of bands left to see - but I've also made quite a dent, especially this past year.

My master list (in absolutely no order):

Aerosmith 
Guns n' Roses
Motley Crue
George Michael
AC/DC
Kix
Tesla
Fastway
Bon Jovi
Twisted Sister
Sammy Hagar
Led Zeppelin

Van Halen
Whitesnake
Alice Cooper
Rolling Stones
Pink Floyd
The Who
Eric Clapton
Metallica
Def Leppard
Poison
Iron Maiden
Rage Against the Machine

I'm sure my list doesn't fit with some trendy/hipster/indie magazine crowd. Those types probably list bands like Death Cab for Cutie and Arctic Monkeys or something. I think for a band to make your "death list" they better be classic. Sure, I like a lot of new bands - and quite frankly I've seen all the ones I really dig.

I'm doubtful I'll ever see Led Zeppelin, but they are on the list because they are a big dream. Guns n' Roses made the list - but I mean the classic line-up, not Axl Rose and Friends. We'll see if that comes to fruition. I can't even imagine how much tickets would cost for that reunion. I bet scalpers are already praying for that day.


So, who is on your list? I bet we share a few bands in common!

Does the Demand for AC/DC Tickets Prove Live Music Isn't Dead After All?

Does the demand for tickets to AC/DC's upcoming Black Ice tour prove the demand for live music isn't dead - or does it just say that people really love the Aussie rockers?

I keep going back and forth on my position about the ticket prices for the Black Ice shows. I know exactly how much money I've spent on music this year - and when I think of it that way, prices for AC/DC are on the lower end of the spectrum. I spent $200 and $300 a ticket to see Van Halen and George Michael respectively. Those prices are for one ticket - not a pair! So, even with the fanclub membership tacked on, I spent $250 for my two AC/DC seats. That's a lot of money when the economy sucks but I guess you have to pay if you want to see a certain band.

People are paying indeed.

I thought the days were gone where a single band could continually sell out venue after venue. I have to admit I'm intrigued watching this "AC/DC phenomenon."  It is exciting to me to think that people are still into live music enough to get online, get on the phone, get in the car and get ready to all buy seats at the exact same time for one particular band. I can imagine this was the case often in the 80s. I guess it all comes down to the thrill of the chase.

I can only imagine how much better this experience would be if people could actually wait all night at venues for tickets. The advent of the Internet sort of killed that vibe altogether. Sure, time is money and progress moves society forward - but you also lose a very special bonding experience through convenience.

So, is AC/DC just a rare band everyone wants to see? Is the economy not as bad as we are all led to believe? Is live music really not dead after all?

How in the Hell Did I Miss This?

The Daily Buzz is a syndicated morning show. It is produced and aired by the CW network and actually started in my hometown of Dayton, Ohio. A couple years ago, production moved to Florida. Let me be clear here: I do not watch The Daily Buzz but I do pick up promos while I enjoy reruns of my favorite comedies on the CW.

Like any morning show, the Daily Buzz has musical guests. Well, imagine my surprise when I find myself searching YouTube...and find a clip of Nelson on the Daily Buzz. I have no earthly clue why Nelson were on that show - I'm assuming to plug some sort of tour/book/shampoo...or whatever. Anyway, the brothers (band?) did a basically worthless interview after their performance. The interview does take a serious turn for about 30 seconds, but then goes quickly back to drivel - and I blame the anchors, not the Nelson twins! Please believe, the interviewers are fascinated to learn about the concept of "Scrap Metal."

...and here's "(Can't Live Without Your) Love and Affection" live from the Daily Buzz.

So, is it just me, or did you also find that interview pointless? Maybe I'm getting grouchy in my old age, but I can't help but be frustrated at the poor quality of most music-related interviews these days. The interviewers have no background information on the bands and the musicians...could basically care less. In this instance, I give the Nelson brothers credit for trying.