Monday, June 26, 2006
New Music
The last few weeks I’ve been listening to the new Tool cd "10,000 Days", a band called The Trews, and "3".
You probably know about Tool, all of their stuff is so solid. The bass, drums and guitar act as one amazing unit, there is nothing else like them.
The Trews are a Canadian band. They are a straight up fun, greasy rock & roll band with some very radio friendly songs, including my favorite "Poor ‘ol Broken Hearted Me". Their guitarist John-Angus McDonald will be my guest in the Chop Shop the week of July 3rd to July 9th (9th in Detroit), so tune by and check it out.
Then there is my new favorite band 3. They have a very unique sound, so describing it is impossible. They possess crafty melodic vocals, inventive guitar parts, smart bass lines and lots of layers. I can here some Beatles and Pink Floyd influence in the slower songs and some Tool, Coheed, and perhaps a dash of The Mars Volta and Spock’s Beard in the rest of the CD.
Their web site sucks, so if you want to check them out go to www.myspace.com/3
My favorite songs are "Dregs", "Alien Angel", "Wake Pig" and Bramfatura".
It’s been a good solid year since I found a full cd I was this fired up about!
Black out.
¶ 8:41 PM
Tuesday, June 20, 2006
Saturday was the best Harleyfest ever! We all had such a great time. The bands, the food, the giveaways, the live broadcasts, the wedding, thousands of motorcycles, and all of our WRIF listeners, who could have asked for more? I’m just sorry I missed Carly (our marketing director) standing on the picnic table whipping the guy with no shirt with his belt……
This week I’m out on Thursday night for another Miller Hook-up party. This time I’ll be at Malarkey’s in Westland starting at 10pm.
Friday I’ll be at Harpo’s for soundcheck, and to get some Chop Shop footage with Simon Ormandy of Trapt and Jasin Todd of Shinedown.
And later Friday night you can find me at Coach’s Corner starting at 9pm for a Labatt Hockey Tournament party.
Saturday from 11am to 1pm, I’ll be at Guitar Center to celebrate their 10th Anniversary…I don’t know which location I’ll be at, Roseville I believe. You’ll have to check the WRIF event page to be certain.
Black out.
¶ 2:59 PM
Friday, June 16, 2006
Zappa
I went to the Zappa Plays Zappa show last night at Meadowbrook. Man what a tight band! I can only imagine how much practice time went into that show. The song selection included some of my all-time Zappa favorites including "City of Tiny Lights", "Trying To Grow A Chin", "Don’t Eat The Yellow Snow". Later, when Steve Vai came out they really steeped things up with an amazing version of "Peaches En Regalia" and "Zomby Woof" which featured an off the charts solo from Mr. Vai.
Tomorrow is Harleyfest ’06, I hope to see you there. I’ll be arriving around 2pm.
Black out.
¶ 2:03 PM
Sunday, June 11, 2006
I’ve been keeping busy the last few weeks. Doug has been kind enough to give me a few extra shifts filling in for him and Art.
The Sabrina Black Foundation is coming together nicely. We have filed our articles of incorporation; we have a web domain, and a logo. The Board of Directors is set and the Advisory Board is very impressive as well. Our attorney, Robert Weed has been a huge help getting this off the ground and I hope to have a fully functional 501-c3 corporation by mid July. It’s my goal to be able to help our first cancer patient by December, less than a year after Sabrina passed away, that will make her proud!
I’ve been doing a lot of drawing, and painting lately (the photo is the latest) I was never a great artist, but I work quickly, It's like this vision just has to get out of me so I grab some chalk, or ink or paint and just go for it.
I also decided on Wednesday that it is time to start my next solo CD. It’s been 6 years since the release of my first solo cd and I’m ready to dabble once again. This album will have a few songs from my days in the band Surreal, that were never completely finished. Plus some songs with Paul Kramer. I also talked to Koz at No Deal records, I think we are going to record a guitar heavy version of "Oh Well" with the Brian Schram Band, with guitar guest appearances from Paul Kramer, Sean Baker, and perhaps even Jimmy McCarty.
The Chop Shop is still rolling along. We are up to 29 stations across the nation, and hope to have 2 more in the next 2 weeks. Thanks to everyone for all your support. Salute to my Chop Shop staff, Associate Producers Sparky & Jeremy, Web Designer Michelle, Artist John Rios, T-Shirt guy, Jimmy Jones, Production voices Rik Elliot, Melissa and the dearly departed Sabrina. I really would like to plan a staff party for you I just haven’t had the time.
I’ll be out on the streets a lot this week, stop out and say hello if you can.
Monday: The Post in Novi from 6pm – 8pm
Wednesday: Lake Pointe Yatch Club in Livonia for a Miller hook up party from 10pm to 12am
Thursday: Zappa plays Zappa with Steve Vai at Meadowbrook
Friday: Hamlin Pub in Shelby Twp. From 9pm to 11pm.
See you around.
Black
¶ 10:21 AM
Wednesday, June 07, 2006
Hall of Fame
Anoher month has passed and guitar fans from across the globe have voted another legend into the Chop Shop Hall of Fame. This time around it's Jeff Beck, one of the top 10 all-time in my book, but a guy who is sometimes overlooked by the general population. You can download the exclusive art work, bio and audio at www.chopshopradio.com Here are a few quotes from his peers: "I always admired him and emulated him many times when I was growing up" - Slash
"He makes the guitar cry, talk, scream...he can do it all" - John5, from Rob Zombie
"They always say playing is in the hands, if you want proof of that, go see Jeff Beck". - Nick Bowcott, guitar World Magazine
¶ 1:24 PM
Thursday, June 01, 2006
Super Group
One of my new favorite shows is Super Group on VH1. If you have not seen it yet, they took Ted Nugent, Sebastian Bach, Scott Ian, Even Seinfeld and Jason Bonham, put them all in a house together and they have 14 days to form a band, write some songs and play a live show. It is so funny. All these big egos all trying to figure out how to work together. I was thinking that if they decide to make this a series, I would like to make some suggestions for future shows. I tried to pick people with a mix of talent, availability and overall comic value. My drummers: Tommy Lee or Vinnie Paul (Pantera) – Tommy loves to be on T.V. and is a drumming legend, Vinnie needs to get back to playing and this would be great therapy for him as he deals with the loss of his brother Dime Bag Darryl Bass Players: Les Claypool (Primus) or Doug Pinick (king’s X) – Les is my favorite bass player of all time, and is just a genuine weirdo. Doug is so respected across the board as a singer, bass player and song writer, the other members would be so fired up to play with him!
Guitarists: Zack Wylde or Buckethead – Zakk is one of the funniest people alive, and his persona is larger that life. Buckethead is strange beyond description. Both are amazing guitar players. Vocalist: Walt Lafty (Silvertide) or Ronnie James Dio: Walt would be perfect, he is talented, crazy and I think having a younger guy would be a nice blend. Dio is a monster singer who could use the pub. What do you think? Black out
¶ 11:21 AM
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