Memorable TV Performances: Rollins Band on Saturday Night Live

611yCidDk5L._UX691_The other day I was thinking about all the great live performances I’ve seen on TV. There were so many awesome moments on shows like Saturday Night Live, MTV, scattered awards shows like the Grammy’s, MTV Awards, American Music Awards, etc. The list goes on. I thought this category would be really fun to look back on these great performances and go back to a time when rock music was at the forefront of the world.

Let’s start this off with something out of left field. Back in 1997 on Saturday Night Live when Pamela Anderson was hosting, I believe it was to promote the movie Barb Wire, Rollins Band was the music guest. They performed “Starve” off the very underrated album Come In and Burn. The entire band absolutely crushed their performance and I’m sure left those in the audience a little scared.

 

Rollins Band- Starve (on Saturday Night Live):

Band Of The Week: Gyre

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Honesty is something I look for in bands. What I mean by that is, when I’m listening to a band, I want to be able to hear the true conviction in their music and words. A lot of bands I’ve heard over the years really just half ass it and don’t put their all into it. You can tell when you listen to those bands. Recently I came across a band that stays true to their convictions and their attitude shows through their music. I’d like to introduce you to Gyre. This three piece band from the NY/NJ area is quite a bright spot. Their music is heavy rock with splashes of prog, groove and a touch of thrash, all of which makes for a grand listening experience. Gyre have released three previous EP’s and have now put out their first full length album entitled Shared Visions and it’s ripe with all the rock you’d want and need. I like to think of it as a great album for a long drive and just escaping the world. As a three piece singer/bassist Ian McCarthy, guitarist Juan Soaz, and drummer Pablo Carpio have carved out a little niche for their blend of heavy rock. Shared Visions is definitely one of the best albums of 2018 and it deserves your attention.

 

Gyre- Shared Visions:

Great Music Videos: The Smashing Pumpkins- 1979

 

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It’s a shame music videos aren’t made like they used to be. Gone are the days of proper budgets to make a great video and the narratives that came along with the video have disappeared as well. Granted there are still a few directors out there that have been able to capture the essence of yesteryears. One video I will always remember fondly was for The Smashing Pumpkins song “1979.” Directors Jonathan Dayton and Valerie Faris (Jane’s Addiction, Smashing Pumpkins, Korn, Red Hot Chili Peppers), really honed in on what Billy Corgan wrote the song about and the end result was something beautiful. It’s also crazy to think that this video is now 22 years old. My head is spinning just thinking about that. Here’s a piece of cool trivia that you’d find interesting. The video for the song “Perfect” from their Unsung Masterpiece, Adore, is a sequel to the 1979 video, and involves the same characters who are now older.

 

The Smashing Pumpkins- 1979:

 

The Smashing Pumpkins- Perfect:

End Of Album Songs: Led Zeppelin

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Some of the all time best end of album songs have come from Led Zeppelin. They really knew how to pick best song to end their records. Each and everyone they picked has this perfect element of everything they just gave your from the start of the album. I have my favorites like “How Many More Times,” “When The Levee Breaks,” “The Ocean,” and “Tea For One.” Led Zeppelin were masters of their craft and these songs help to show that.

 

How Many More Times (from Led Zeppelin I):

 
Bring It On Home (from Led Zeppelin II):

 

Hats Off To Roy Harper (from Led Zeppelin III):

 

When The Levee Breaks (from Led Zeppelin IV):

 
The Ocean (from Houses Of The Holy):

 
Sick Again (from Physical Graffiti):

 
Tea For One (from Presence):

 

I’m Gonna Crawl (from In Through The Out Door):

 

 

Wearing and Tearing (from Coda):

 

Band Of The Week: Del Judas

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It seems that the post-punk genre has really taken over as of late. There are so many bands that have come about in the past couple years that have incorporated the post-punk sound a la Joy Division, Bauhaus and so many other influential bands from the beginning. I’ve come across a few that really stand out and have made “that” sound into something cool and different. One band that I’ve heard recently is Del Judas. Instead of just relying on post-punk influences, Charlie Schmid aka Del Judas has taken a different approach. You might also recognize Charlie from his time playing drums in the band Tombs along with a few others.  Growing up in a household that listened to country music and artists like Hank Williams, Johnny Cash and Patsy Cline to name a few, had a profound effect on Charlie. So by taking those childhood influences and melding them together with the likes of Joy Division, Bauhaus and a touch of Chris Isaak, Del Judas stands out on it’s own merit and sounds different and fresh. There are some moments throughout the album that almost seem like they are inspired by Leonard Cohen too.  The debut album “DEITY” will be out July 13 via Primal Architecture.

Del Judas is definitely one of the bright spots of an already exciting year for music. Personally, I can’t wait to see what’s to come for this project and for people to hear how damn good it is.

 

Del Judas- Of Love And Death:

 

 

Del Judas- Through The Glass:

Songs In Film: Alice In Chains in This Is 40

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This is one of my favorite uses of a song in a movie. What Paul Rudd says to his family about the music he plays them is absolutely spot on. Music from bands like Alice In Chains, will undoubtedly live on in a way that music from our parents era has all these years later.

 

Alice In Chains- Rooster (in This Is 40):

Anticipated Albums: Alice In Chains- Rainer Fog

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On August 24, Alice In Chains will release their long awaited new album Rainer Fog. The 10 song set was produced once again by Nick Raskulinecz (Deftones, Foo Fighters, Rush, etc) and mixed by Joe Barresi (Tool, Queens Of The Stone Age, etc). Rainer Fog is the first Alice album to be recorded in Seattle in more than 20 years as well as additional work done in Los Angeles and Nashville.  In anticipation of their upcoming new album, Alice In Chains has released another song called “So Far Under” and it’s just as good as “The One You Know” which makes me one happy guy.

You can pre-order the album HERE.

Rainer Fog Track Listing:

01) The One You Know
02) Rainer Fog
03) Red Giant
04) Fly
05) Drone
06) Deaf Ears Blind Eyes
07) Maybe
08) So Far Under
09) Never Fade
10) All I Am

 

Alice In Chains- So Far Under:

 

Alice In Chains- The One You Know:

Musicians In Film/TV: Jerry Cantrell

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I’ve been compiling a list of all the movies and tv shows that musicians have guested on or starred in. I thought that this would be a fun thing to look into.

The first person I thought of was Jerry Cantrell and his quick role in Jerry Maguire. The line he says to Tom Cruise’s Jerry ” That’s how you become great man… Hang your balls out there,” is really quite poignant. Anyways, here are a few times Jerry has been seen on the big and small screens.

Quick side note, Jerry was also director Cameron Crowe’s first choice for the role of Stillwater bass player Larry Fellows in Almost Famous. Jerry was busy writing the songs for his solo album Degradation Trip and had to turn the role down.

Jerry Maguire:

 

Singles:

 

Alice In Chains- The Nona Tapes (Jerry as Nona Weisbaum:

Album Review: Nine Inch Nails- Bad Witch

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The final installment of Nine Inch Nails 3 EP set is finally upon us. Bad Witch is the conclusion to Not The Actual Events and Add Violence and it provides a sense of closure to this piece of work. What Trent Reznor and Atticus Ross have created is something that they should be proud of. Each EP stands out on its own merit, with each representing something different. Bad Witch seems to take a little bit from each of the other two and deconstruct it and open the wound for all to see.

Starting off with “Shit Mirror” is a perfect way to set the tone for what this EP is to be. Plus with a title like “Shit Mirror” you know you are going to get something that tingles up and down your spine. “Ahead Of Ourselves” is classic NIN over and over. This song could have been found on Broken or The Downward Spiral. And live, this song is one of those that the crowd will eat up. “Play The Goddamned Part” acts more as a segue but adds a very distinct mood to the middle part of the record. “God Break Down The Door” is a very Bowie-esque song that is more of a tribute to the late David Bowie. The saxophone parts on the song make the song feel bigger than it is and full of texture. “I’m Not From This World” is a stark and ambient track that will sink into your head and guide you along an escape from yourself. “Over and Out” segues perfectly from the previous song and in a beautiful way that is almost haunting and leaves you with a mantra.

The distorted electro jazz that permeates from the speakers as you listen to this EP, sucks you in to a vortex of awesomeness. The entire album is a David Bowie tribute in a way. You can definitely hear the inspiration and influence all over this album. In particular Bowie’s “Low” era. Bad Witch is a pessimistic album but it does come with a grain of optimism. It’s crazy to think that it’s been 30 years since Nine Inch Nails was first formed. Being a fan since I was a little kid till now as a full on adult, I and many of the fans out there, have been able to witness the true artistry of Trent. Each era and album that has ever been put out tells its own story. With the world the way it is now, it’s no wonder that this 3 part saga feels the way it does. Bad Witch is the perfect way to end this chapter. I sincerely hope that there is more to come. Trent and Atticus seemed to have really hit on something full of inspiration.

 
Overall Rating: A

 

Nine Inch Nails- Bad Witch: