Month: November 2019

Deep Cuts: Nine Inch Nails- Getting Smaller

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I love this topic. It’s a lot of fun to showcase a song at a time that deserve their due. As I’m sure over time, you’ve all come to realize that Nine Inch Nails is my all time favorite band. Through the years, Trent has written some pretty amazing songs and a lot of them have never really gotten the attention the deserve. One such song I’d like to highlight is “Getting Smaller” from 2005’s With Teeth. I still remember hearing this song for the first time and thinking to myself, what a great song this is, and as time went on I kept thinking why wasn’t this song a single or a live staple. Something fun about this song is that the drums on this track were played by the one and only Dave Grohl. This song too, is one of the best songs on With Teeth. I truly hope that when Nine Inch Nails comes back around to touring again, this song makes the set list.

Nine Inch Nails- Getting Smaller:

 

Band Of The Week: The Wraith

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Over the last few years, I’ve thoroughly enjoyed the resurgence of post-punk.  There have been a bunch of bands that have really nailed that sound and vibe and have cemented a place in my rotation. Recently, I was introduced to another post-punk styled band that has really grabbed my attention. They are called The Wraith and they are badass. Influenced and inspired by bands like Killing Joke, Samhain and T.S.O.L., The Wraith have taken the post-punks sound and added a bit of cool Death Rock/Punk vibe to their sound. Frontman Davey Bales, has a distinctive voice that delivers the goods. The other members of the band, which includes former Blink-182 drummer Scott Raynor and Brit bassist Paul Rogers, have given the music and songs the darkness and depth needed to make the songs shine. Their new album, Gloom Ballet (out November 29 via Southern Lord) was produced by Mat Mitchell, who has worked with Love And Rockets, The Flaming Lips, Meat Puppets, King Crimson and Puscifer to name a few. The first single released from Gloom Ballet, “Wing Of Night” has the right attitude and gusto that will have you inadvertently dancing and wanting to mosh at the same time. The future is not as gloomy as their name might suggest. The Wraith are going to be leaving their mark for sure.

The Wraith:

 

 

 

 

Live Review: Cold at The Viper Room

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It’s always an interesting time going to see a band live that you haven’t seen in many years. There are so many thoughts that race through your mind, what are they going to play, how are they going to sound, what will these new members bring to the table, etc. Last night at The Viper Room, I got to see Cold live for the first time in well over a decade and it was full of nostalgia, good moments, as well as some interesting things.

As the curtain opened up and the lights and fog were cued, The members of Cold appeared through and began ripping through “Everyone’s A Devil” (side note, this song should have been included on the bands new album The Things We Can’t Stop). From there, songs like “Remedy,” “Give,” new song “Without You,” “No One (which is one of my all time favorite Cold songs),” “The Break,” and “Suffocate (another favorite of mine)” were played. At this point the crowd started to get louder and louder, singing along and at times singing louder than Scooter Ward. Other highlights from the night included my all time favorite Cold song “Confession” from 13 Ways To Bleed On Stage as well as “End Of The World,” “Happens All The Time,” and “Just Got Wicked.” Two other new songs “Shine” and their cover of Snow Patrol’s “Run” were played and sounded even better live, especially “Shine.” The set list covered a nice cross section of their albums and showed that they still got it!

This show was very intimate and a great way to welcome Cold back to the stage after an almost decade hiatus from playing live. There is one thing that seemed a bit off and that was the tone and sound of some of the songs. Granted I’m used to hearing the songs a certain way after all these years so, I do have a little bias. Having new members will definitely change things up and at certain moments, yes, there were times that it didn’t sound exactly right but, that’s what made this a very unique performance. The band was extremely tight though and you can tell they had finally hit their stride on that level. I have a feeling that with more and more shows and playing these songs, they will get those tones and sounds aligned and sound even better. That’s not to say, that the new members don’t play well, they do, it’s just going to take some getting used to. Playing at The Viper Room was a great choice as well. This room really brought the fans closer to the band and you could feel the unity among them all in attendance as they sang their hearts out. Here’s to Cold’s return and many more shows and albums from here on out!

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Cold Set List:

01) Everyone’s A Devil
02) Remedy
03) Give
04) Without You
05) No One
06) The Break
07) Suffocate
08) It’s All Good
09) When Angels Fly Away
10) Happens All The Time
11) Ocean
12) Confession
13) End Of The World
14) God’s Song
15) Shine
16) Stupid Girl
17) Run (Snow Patrol Cover)
18) Just Got Wicked
19) Feel It In Your Heart

 

 

Review and Photos (I was too busy watching to take many pictures) By: Brian Lacy

Soundtrack Only Songs: Simple Minds- Don’t You (Forget About Me)

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The Breakfast Club is one of the best films to come out of the 80’s and it’s also one of the most poignant films of a generation. It’s one of those films that as time goes on, it will always be highly regarded and looked upon with acclaim. The story, the script, the performances in the movie are all stunning. As much as those elements make up a truly great film, the soundtrack that accompanied it was just as important, especially the song “Don’t You (Forget About Me)” by Simple Minds.

While scoring the film, Keith Forsey and Steve Schiff wrote the song with the band Simple Minds in mind to perform the song. Originally the band turned down the opportunity to record the song so it was then offered to Roxy Music’s Bryan Ferry as well as Billy Idol but, they too declined. According to Simple Minds singer Jim Kerr, the band didn’t want to do the song based on the feeling that “they should only record their own material. “We are Simple Minds – we don’t do songs that sound like Simple Minds. We are Simple Minds. We do our own songs.” After much persuasion from their record label as well as The Pretenders singer Chrissie Hynde (who was also married to Jim Kerr at the time), Simple Minds finally agreed.

This song was played twice in the film (the beginning and end) and it’s played such a pivitol role in the message of the film. It’s also worth noting that the band opted not to include the song on their album Once Upon A Time, which they were working on at the same time. Thus making it exclusive to the soundtrack. However in 1992, it did appear on the bands best of.

 
Simple Minds- Don’t You (Forget About Me):

 

Ultimate Set List: Rage Against The Machine

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This will be my last post on Rage for a bit. The excitement of them announcing their return is quite fun and the possibilities of what they will do are seemingly endless. It will be quite interesting to see what they decide to play as well. That being said, while talking with a few friends about that I made what I think is one hell of a great Ultimate Set List for them to play.

Guideline 1: What line up of the band would it be

Guideline 2: Where would you want to see the show

Guideline 3: maximum 25 songs (In order of how the set should go)

Lineup: Zack De La Rocha, Tom Morello, Brad Wilk, Tim Commerford

Venue: Forum Los Angeles

Setlist:

01) Take The Power Back
02) Guerrilla Radio
03) Bulls On Parade
04) Born As Ghosts
05) Year Of Tha Bomerang
06) Wake Up
07) Know Your Enemy
08) No Shelter
09) Down Rodeo
10) Bombtrack
11) Born Of A Broken Man
12) Calm Like A Bomb
13) Revolver
14) Bullet In The Head
15) Ashes In The Fall
16) People Of The Sun

Encore:

17) Testify
18) Freedom
19) Sleep Now In The Fire
20) Killin In The Name

Deep Cuts: Rage Against The Machine- Ashes In The Fall

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With the news of Rage Against The Machine returning, it’s gotten a lot of people excited. I’m excited but, I have my own apprehensions about it all (more on that to come later this week). That being said though, their final studio album, The Battle of Los Angeles has just passed the 20 year anniversary milestone. I remember buying the album the day it came out and being really stoked on it. Of course the singles like, “Guerilla Radio” and “Sleep Now In The Fire” are rad but, there is one song in particular on the album that has always stood out to me and since than, has become my favorite Rage Against The Machine song. I’m talking about “Ashes In The Fall.” It’s one hell of a great song and it’s chock full of great Tom Morello guitar moments. The dynamic shifts in the song too, are stellar. Everything about this song is perfect. Enjoy this song. I sure do hope they play this song live more often. The lyrics are beyond fitting in today’s society.
Rage Against The Machine- Ashes In The Fall:

 

Band Of The Week: Return Fire

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When it comes to metal music, people always tend to focus on the guitar playing and vocals but, there are 2 other elements that really shouldn’t go overlooked, the drums and bass. When you look back through the history of metal, the impact of those two instruments, it’s without a doubt that those are the true driving forces. Think about it, Sabbath, Priest, Maiden, Metallica, Megadeth, etc, all those bands had such killer rhythm sections that were the ultimate driving force. I’d like to bring your attention to a band called Return Fire led by drummer Joe Nunez, who you might recall as one of Soulfly’s former drummers. His new band, Return Fire is a pretty thrashtastic return to the fold. Armed with a sound that hits on all the right grooves a la Slayer, Pantera, Napalm Death, Prong and even a bit of a Helmet vibe, Return Fire is the real deal. Their debut album is loud, fast and ferocious. If you are a fan of this style of metal, I really think you’ll dig this.

 

Return Fire- Return Fire:

RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE 2020

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RAGE AGAINST THE MACHINE are reuniting for a handful of shows in 2020. The dates released so far are as followed. The band hasn’t played a show since 2011 but, it’s looking more and more like this is going to come to fruition.

El Paso, TX March 26, 2020
Las Cruces, NM March 28, 2020
Phoenix, AZ March 30, 2020
Indio, CA April 10, 2020
Indio, CA April 17, 2020