Status Quo and Kansas at the Philipshalle in Germany

Status Quo and Kansas at the Philipshalle in Germany
Philipshalle - Dusseldorf, Germany - October 24, 2009
by Edwin van Hoof


No less than 40 years onstage; Status Quo! Still going steady and still going strong as proven tonight piling hits upon one another and creating a magic atmosphere building tension like no band can. Tonight Status Quo invited another great legend in contemporary rock--Kansas. Much like the English gentlemen the American progressive-orchestra been around for over three decades celebrating their 35th anniversary and supporting their latest live 2CD/2DVD release "There's know place like home." It's an evening of contemporary rock at it's best in it's widest possible range.





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Audio Sheep

Audio Sheep
by Sam Frank

Hard to believe it's been a decade since Shawn Fanning's original Napster took the music industry by storm when it popularized P2P (Peer-to-Peer) file sharing. Before Napster hit the mainstream there were only a few ways one could exchange music: either with a CD writer (which was also considered new technology at the time) or by recording the album onto a cassette tape (which was considered crappy technology at the time). Dealing with CDR drives and tape recorders requires a great deal of patience and often ended in frustration. Anybody remember "dusters?" It wasn't until my tech-savvy friend told me about MPEG audio layer III (a.k.a. MP3) files that downloading became my preferred method of music consumption. Now that MP3s are standardized the CD, like vinyl, 8-track, and cassette before it, is slowly being phased out, but losing of this medium really worth it for music fans?

In July of 2007, nations came together via the internet to watch Live Earth, a series of concerts that took place around the globe spreading awareness of global warming. Today's top artists including Madonna, Duran Duran, Black-Eyed Peas, Linkin Park, etc. all performed at random locations throughout the world, but in between their sets were infomercials explaining how people can save energy on a day-to-day basis. One ad suggested that if record companies were to stop making CDs then we could save the gas used by trucks that deliver them to stores. That unfathomable option two years ago has become reality in 2009 with the loss of stores like Virgin, Tower, and HMV. Now people buy CDs at stores that consolidate entertainment products like Best Buy, Barnes & Noble, Borders, and Target, leaving us only one other way to get music...download it.


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Motorhead, 2,700 Fans Can't Be Wrong in Canada

Motorhead, 2,700 Fans Can't Be Wrong in Canada
The Sound Academy – Toronto, Ontario, Canada – September 2, 2009
by Calvin Oberton

The venue welcomed 2,700 Motorhead fans to the Sound Academy in Toronto on September 2, 2009. In the world of music entertainment, as well as heavy metal/thrash, many bands come and go, but Ian "Lemmy" Kilmister and Motorhead have been around for nearly 40 years. Motorhead is the band that all metal bands try to aspire and become the legends that they are today. The test of time proves 100 percent, with flying colors, that Lemmy Kilmister, is considered a god of metal and the grandfather of thrash metal. He is undisputed. If you ask anyone in the world, "Lemmy or god?" what answer would you give? (It's a trick question. "Lemmy is god, god is Lemmy," as quoted in the movie Airheads, 1994). Motorhead through all their years were raw, leather and denim, they go together. Motorhead wrote the book on bare bones, no frill rock; a priceless study of every hard driving musician. KISS, Poison, Metallica, and many other are in a different plain, but all acknowledge Motorhead and their place in Rock 'n Roll.



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Russian Circles, Geneva (2009)

Russian Circles, Geneva (2009)
Suicide Squeeze Records - October 20, 2009
by Dimitris Dairis

"Geneva" is the third studio album by the instrumental,post-rock group Russian Circles.The album consists of seven songs starting with "Fathom",an atmospheric introduction which prepares the listener to decode the feelings an instrumental album has to offer.

Unlike most instrumental albums which focus on technique perfection,Russian Circles attempt through their sound to make the listener explore something different than a perfectly composed album,they try to make one feel or even sense the atmosphere they are creating through their songs.



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Royksopp: Röyksopp Forever - Webster Hall, New York

Royksopp: Röyksopp Forever
Webster Hall – New York, NY, USA – November 23, 2009
by Sam Frank

Living in America can sometimes be isolating. School teaches us very little about foreign nations, and as adults we often shape our opinions around outdated stereotypes and movies. Norway, for example, is a place that many of us know little or nothing about. Oslo, the nation's capital, is where President Obama received his Nobel Peace Prize. It's also the birthplace of Norway's most successful music group A-ha, who shot to stardom in 1985 with their hit single "Take On Me." The city of Tromsø (located 1050 miles north of Oslo) is one of the best spots in the world to view Aurora Borealis (Northern Lights). Also known as the "Techno Capital of Norway," Tromsø has produced many talented musicians like Bjørn Torske, Frost, Kings of Convenience's guitarist/songwriter Erlend Øye, and most notably Röyksopp's Torbjørn Brundtland and Svein Berge, who in late November lit up New York City's Webster Hall brighter than Tromsø's winter skies.


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Edward Rogers - Sparkle Lane

Edward Rogers - Sparkle Lane
Zip Records, February 2, 2010
by Sam Frank

In Lewis Carroll's Through The Looking Glass Alice wonders what life is like on the other side of a mirror. Following her curiousity Alice enters the mirror where she discovers a vast world of unanswered questions and paradoxes that actually exists within herself. Her journey is one of self-discovery, an introspective look at her own reflection, and on his newest album, Sparkle Lane, Edward Rogers gives you an inside view of the looking glass he walked through on his way to wonderland." Sparkle Lane is a street in England where my grandmother lived," Rogers explains.


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Jann Arden: "Feet on ground, heart in hand, and facing forward; that is Jann"

Jann Arden: "Feet on ground, heart in hand, and facing forward; that is Jann"
by Jackie Lee King


Known as Canada's sweetheart, Jann Arden (born Jann Arden Anne Richards; March 27) has been writing and singing bittersweet songs for the past 20 years. Her current CD "Free" is aptly named, because she has shaken off the sandess and takes a picturesque 360 view of the world around her; in essence stopping to smell the roses. It's a celebration of what it means to be alive, and she's known some living. She's received 8 Juno Awards (Canada's version of the Grammys) over the span over 10 albums (8 studio, 1 live, 1 greatest 'hurts'). She is a master wit which sometimes gets her into mischief, but it's all in good fun. Jann currently writes a monthly advice column in Elle Canada magazine and has also authored two books of personal reflections and poetry, "If I Knew, Don't You Think I'd Tell You", released in 2002 and I'll Tell "You One Damn Thing, and That's All I Know" in 2004. She is modest about her success but sings the praises of her family and friends, and a puppy named MIDI. I got to catch up to her before she set out on her Canadian tour in support of her current CD.

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Jimmy Wayne - Sara Smile

Jimmy Wayne - Sara Smile (2009)

The Valory Music Company (Big Machine Records)
By Jackie Lee King


"Sara Smile," Jimmy Wayne's third CD really should have been called "Faith," considering it's a running theme in each of the eleven songs on this release. Beginning with the opening track "Things I Believe," penned by Keith Urban and John Shanks, Jimmy notes that it's the little things, like changing one's point of view that can give you strength. "Instead of saying I'm lucky, saying I'm blessed," is all that it takes to alleviate the weight of trying to make something work. Declare your faith in the people around you, and they won't disappoint. It is this type of conviction to seek the truth that continues to be his mantra as he looks to the past and how it's affected his future.

The first single off of the CD is a cover of the classic Daryl Hall & John Oates song, "Sara Smile." The song has been a Noah's dove for Jimmy as it has led him from being a prison guard to a Country singer. "Upon returning a rental suit, I discovered a Hall & Oates greatest hits CD in a bargain box sitting on a table outside a department store in the old Gaston Mall, in Gastonia NC," Jimmy notes on his MySpace page. "Sara Smile," immediately got his attention and from that point on he was singing the song everywhere he went, even at Nashville songwriter nights, though he didn't write the song. One of those places that he performed the song was in the office of Scott Borchetta (The Valory Music co.), which in turn got him a record deal. Now, with Hall and Oats blessing, as they both sing backup on this song, 'Sara' has come home with Jimmy. His version has a little country swagger in the mix, but is still soulful enough to convey the song's tender message of love and support. It just goes to show you that a well-written song is timeless, even thirty-three years later.

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Conflict: The Power of Propaganda (2009)

Conflict: The Power of Propaganda (2009)
by Melanie 'Sass' Falina

Although widely used, use of the word "conflict" when referencing the Israeli-Palestinian situation almost seems inadequate. It's a monumentally frustrating and complex predicament which has been the cause of death and carnage, misunderstandings and misinformation, and desperation on each side; both sides with their own sets of reasons, hopes, fears, and grudges.

Conflict: The Power of Propaganda DVD describes the tension between the people of Israel and Palestine, gives an overview of the history of the clash between these nations, and offers suggestions as to what will and won't work as far as coming to some sort of resolution.

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Surrorates (2009)

Surrorates (2009)
Bruce Willis is Back in Action in the Adrenaline-Fueled Thriller


Based on the enormously popular graphic novel created by Robert Venditti and Brett Weldele, Surrogates also stars Radha Mitchell (Silent Hill), Ving Rhames (Mission Impossible), James Cromwell (Spider-man 3) and Rosamund Pike (An Education).

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Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

Night at the Museum: Battle of the Smithsonian (2009)

History is larger than life -- and twice as funny -- in this monumental comedy sequel. Ben Stiller (Meet The Parents, There's Something About Mary) stars as Larry Daley, a former night watchman at the Museum of Natural History, where the exhibits come alive after dark. But now Larry's nocturnal friends are being retired to the archives of the Smithsonian Institution, luring him back for a hilarious, all-out battle against a cranky Egyptian Pharaoh who plans to take over the museum... and the world! From returning director Shawn Levy (Cheaper By The Dozen), the film also stars Amy Adams (Enchanted), Robin Williams (Good Will Hunting), Owen Wilson (Wedding Crashers), Hank Azaria ("The Simpsons"), Ricky Gervais ("The Office"), Steve Coogan (Tropic Thunder) and Jonah Hill (Super Bad).



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Rocky: The Undisputed Collection [Blu-ray]

Rocky: The Undisputed Collection [Blu-ray]
by Rob Grabowski

The complete Rocky collection comes out just in time for Christmas and is sure to be on everyone's Blu-ray list this year. It is a perfect upgrade on this Blu-ray format. While the picture quality isn't as good as I would have liked to see on the earlier films the audio quality is the best available since their theatrical releases. However, the picture is considerably better than what has been previously offered on DVD. The latest installment, Rocky Balboa, has an impeccable picture quality and audio track that will impress the most discernable videophiles. There are also plenty of bonus materials included on a 7 th disk to keep the die hard fans enthralled for hours with bonus material and commentary. Rocky: The undisputed collection, is put together nicely from packaging to presentation and is sure to satisfy the underdog in everyone.

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Chris Dignam - Greenlit CD Review

Chris Dignam - Greenlit
Portraiture Records - April 28, 2009
by Michele Mussatto

Wow! Guitarist Chris Dignam spun a winner with Greenlit, released in May 2009 by independent label Portraiture Records. An instrumental rock guitar work for the most part, Greenlit also has folk, classical and new age moments, and contains the most unusual, inspiring and enjoyable guitar compositions I've heard since first opening a Led Zeppelin album. His first recording in five years, Dignam broke free from the conventions imposed on him in his previous CD's and used every type of guitar, device, timbre and playing style in his repertoire, to create a compilation of experimental yet deftly written guitar pieces that sated my thirst for fresh rock sounds.

All but one of Greenlit's tracks lack vocals. Given the complexity of Dignam's arrangements, this is a necessary omission for one to be able to hear and appreciate all the tonal qualities present at the same time in his compositions. The expressive soulfulness of his melodies more than compensate for lyrics, and offer the listener a chance to fill in their own images based on the different emotions each melody evokes.



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Artist Profile: Evolove

Evolove

There is a famous quote that says, "Words have meaning and names have power." When choosing to change the name of their band while it was on the brink of ascension, many symbolic words morphed into the perfect moniker for the powerhouse LA-based alternative rock band EVOLOVE.

Evolution and love. Evocative, as well, with songs themed by loneliness, struggle, delusion and the end of the world.

All a far cry from the former Waiting 4 Wyatt, the poppier incarnation that first brought together Lucy Levinsohn (vocals), Billy Berman (bass), Jon Ruiz (guitar)and Jae Wong (drums). W4W was a fixture in high-profile Los Angeles clubs from the Troubadour and the Roxy to House of Blues and the Whiskey. They toured regionally and became a favorite for Hot Topic in-store performances. Their music was featured on shows such as The Hills, Parental Control and Made. But with experience came growth, and that dictated the new direction.

This year, the band reemerged as EVOLOVE, with a much more immediate, but still accessible, sound. EVOLOVE's first EP, 2012: Countdown to the End, an ode to the pending Mayan prophecy of the global Apocalypse set to occur on December 21, 2012. This five-song taster, which was released in October, demonstrates both the band's musical influences (Rise Against, Flyleaf, Anberlin, Breaking Benjamin) and its own collective musical prowess. Billy and Jon write the energetic music, and then Lucy delivers reflective pointed lyrics. The collaborative result blossoms on the playful alternative three-chord shuffle of "On The Floor" and on "Let Me In," a tight-knit power-packed anthem of urgent yearning woven around melodic sensibilities.

While the band is supporting 2012: Countdown to the End, they have also been supporting charitable causes for many years, donating performances to raise money and spirits. In addition to continuing events with the USO and American Cancer Society's Relay for Life, EVOLOVE will be working with the Keep A Breast foundation.

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