Thursday, December 31, 2015

Favorite Albums of 2015 (Alabama Shakes)


Alabama Shakes sophomore album Sound & Color makes my list of favorites, but have to say, when I first picked up this album I hated it. I didn't play it again for about two months after buying it, and now here it is in my tops. This album is nothing like their first one, and maybe that's what made me not care for it. But after repeated listens it's a great album. More soulful, psychedelic and experimental. Nice to see that the band weren't just one off's. Lead singer Britany Howard can belt it out like no other, just am amazing voice on her.
Favorite songs - "Gimme All Your Love", "Shoegaze" and "Miss You".

Wednesday, December 30, 2015

Favorite Albums of 2015 (Faith No More)


A highly anticipated album from Faith No More, their first album in 18 years called Sol Invictus. It is exactly what I expected from Faith No More, more weirdness and heavy shit, and even a bit jazzy at times. One thing you can never say about this band is that they are boring, cause that they aren't. The more I have listened to this album the more I like it, and yes this album got lots of spins since its release.
Favorite songs - "Sunny Side Up", "Black Friday", "Motherfucker" and "Cone Of Shame".

Tuesday, December 29, 2015

Favorite Albums of 2015 (Steve Earle)


Hey, hey, hey, Baby, baby, baby! Another year and another great release by Steve Earle. This time a blues album from Steve. And hell ya, it fucking rocks. Steve put out a blues album , which is something he has always wanted to do and done did it this year. Probably has something to do with being divorced yet again, I think that's like seven times or something. Anyways, his album Terraplane is a great blues album with some country mixed in. The harder times are with Steve Earle it seems the better his albums are, not that I wish the guy bad luck, bad damn I really do like this album.
Favorite songs - "The Tennessee Kid", "The Best Lover I Ever Had", "Ain't Nobody's Daddy Now" and "Go Go Boots Are Back".

Favorite Albums of 2015 (Blitzen Trapper)


Blitzen Trapper released the album All Across This Land this year, which was awesome as I have been a fan of this band from the beginning. And again they put out a great one, have to admit it took me a few listens, but I am loving it. This band from Portland play a mix of folky, psychedelic, roots' 70's rock type of music. Seen this band live a few times and they are even better live, nonetheless this album sounds great. There are songs that remind me of The Boss, Meat Loaf, Joe Walsh and other classic bands. They mix it up to say the least.
Favorite songs - "All Across This Land", "Rock And Roll (Was Made For You)", "Cadillac Road" Bossish, and "Nights Were Made For Love" Meat Loafish.

Great album, they would fit in with the Interstellar Rodeo line-up.

Monday, December 28, 2015

RIP Lemmy


I interrupt my favorites list to honour Lemmy of Motorhead. News came in today that Lemmy Kilmister of Motorhead passed away at the age of 70. A sad day it is, Lemmy always came across as the guy that was never going to die. He lived hard, played hard and put out some of the heaviest music ever. I was lucky and got to see Motorhead perform four times in my life. The first time being in 1988 opening for Alice Cooper at Northlands Coliseum here in Edmonton. The other three times I saw Motorhead they were the headliners. The last time I saw them play was in 2005 at Red's in Edmonton.
RIP Lemmy you will be missed but your music will live on forever!!!

I'll never forget the first time I saw Motorhead play. I had front row seats for the Alice Cooper double bill. I was as pumped for Motorhead as I was for Cooper, actually I was more pumped for Lemmy and company then I was Alice having never seen Motorhead play live before. At that show I managed to get the set list for the show and a pick. And even to this day now, still one of the loudest shows I had ever been to.







An old t-shirt a good buddy of mine "Geddy" gave me years ago. How I wish I would have been at that show in 1981.

A cool Motorhead clock my friend Sherry made for me from the No Remorse leather cover vinyl copy I have.


Lemmy Figurine.

Stone Deaf Forever!!!

Favorite Albums of 2015 (Leeroy Stagger)


Another great album from Alberta based roots/rock artist Leeroy Stagger. His album Dream It All Away is a heartfelt personal album that is consistently strong from start to finish. Leeroy closed out the year by winning the Alberta Peak Performance Project which netted him $100.953 towards his music career. A nice prize for him to win considering how long Leeroy has been toughing it out in the music business. Looking forward to Leeroy's new album and hoping maybe he will get a slot on this years Interstellar Rodeo Music Festival here in Edmonton.
Favorite songs - "Something Beautiful", "Happy Too", "New Music Biz Blues" and "Ten Long Years".

Favorite Albums of 2015 (Modest Mouse)


This album by Modest Mouse - Strangers To Ourselves which is their first album since 2007's We Were Dead Before the Ship Even Sank took me a bit to get into. There is a hell of a lot going on in this album, the production is great, just lots of different instruments and lyrics that take a few listens to get them all. All and all I really enjoy this record.
Favorite songs - "Lampshades on Fire", "The Ground Walks, with Time in a Box", "Sugar Boats" and "The Best Room".

Favorite Albums of 2015 (Wilco)


This album Star Wars by Wilco was released as a free album on their website in July. A very nice surprise as there was no build up or even talk of Wilco releasing anything new. And to top it off the album is an excellent one at that. A short one though, just over 30 minutes long. The CD was released in August and the vinyl in October I believe. The vinyl version came with a download code for a live performance from the Pitchfork Festival from earlier this year in which they played this whole album live for the first time plus a whole lot of their older stuff.
Favorite songs - "Random Name Generator", "The Joke Explained", "Taste The Ceiling" and "Pickled Ginger".

Favorite Albums of 2015 (Sturgill Simpson)

Time to get a start on my list of favorite albums I picked up in 2015.


Gonna start with this one, ya it came out in 2014, but I didn't pick It up til this year, therefore it is making my list for 2015. I am talking of the album by Sturgill Simpson called Metamodern Sounds In Country Music. If your a fan of old school country music like Waylon Jennings this is an album for you. A great singing voice and lyrics. This records keeps getting better with repeated listens.
Favorite songs - "Turtles All The Way Down", "Life Of Sin" and "Long White Line".

Sunday, December 13, 2015

Motley Crue/Alice Cooper in Edmonton Dec.12th 2015


Saturday night I went to the Motley Crue and Alice Cooper double bill at Rexall Place here in Edmonton. Motley Crue of course are on their Final Tour (or so they say) dubbed All Bad Things Must Come To An End. This was the second time this tour has come through Edmonton, having been here in November of 2014. I didn't go last time, thank god, as it wasn't there last time playing Edmonton. But hopefully this time it was. What really made me want to attend this show was Alice Cooper. And hell Motley Crue is always a good time. This was my seventh time see Motley Crue in concert and sixth time seeing Alice Cooper.

The night didn't get off to the best start though. I got there early as ticket said show at 7pm, so I was seated and ready for the show only to have some fuckin' DJ come on stage and spin music for forty-five minutes, like really, I could have stayed home and had a few more cheap drinks. That was my cue to head out for a smoke and drink.

At 7:45 Alice Cooper and his band hit the stage in fine form. Opening with Black Widow then No More Mr. Nice Guy, Under My Wheels, I'm Eighteen and Billion Dollar Babies, could you ask for a better opening five songs in a row, some classic Cooper that's for sure. Alice sounded great for 67 years old, the man can still belt it out. His back-up band was tight as well, drummer Glen Sobel was wicked as was his female guitarist Nita Strauss. Alice as per usual pulled out all his tricks, the guillotine, electric chair where he turned into a huge Frankenstein, costume changes, whips, swords everything you would expect from an Alice Cooper show and all in the one hour long opening set. I could have done without hearing the song Poison, but the crowd ate up that shitty song. What did surprise me that there was only one song done from his Welcome To My Nightmare album. A great performance by Alice Cooper and in my opinion stole the show from headliners Motley Crue.

Alice Cooper setlist for Edmonton.

Alice Cooper at Rexall Place.

Next up was headliners Motley Crue and what is supposed to be their Final Tour, that's what they said when they played here last November, so glad I didn't get sucked in to going to that show. But with again, supposedly only eleven shows last left on this tour, I figured I would go this time as it had been five years since I last saw them play live.

The show started with Girls,Girls,Girls which sounded pretty good and was a good opening song, then Wild Side and Primal Scream, while it sounded good, you just got the feeling and could tell that the band were just going through the motions. The band just seemed disinterested, and Vince Neil's vocals weren't very strong, not that they ever really were, but now even worse, with the two scantily dressed lady back-up singers doing the heavy lifting all the while they dance, shake and shimmy and strut their ass-ets. Vince does more shouting then actually singing, and when the back-up singers aren't on stage doing Vince's job, there are backing tracks taking care of his duties or the crowd themselves singing the words. Vince your getting lazy!!!

Mick Mars was his usual self just doing his job of playing guitar and staying out of the spotlight, other then his boring guitar solo. Nikki Sixx was probably the worst for not looking interested in his performance whatsoever. Tommy Lee was out of the spotlight for the most part other then his crazy roller coaster drum solo in which he played on a truss over the crowd and upside down, but playing drums along to canned music of hip-hop and dance music, terrible. Having said that, he really was the glue that kept the show on track.

Crue's show was full of explosions, which were really hard on the ears, lots of flames, confetti, Nikki's bass shooting flames and a mediocre light show. All and all not a great show by Motley Crue. It's a good thing this is their Final Tour as it seems the band is old and tired now, just not having the effect the used to have. I'll take the Girls,Girls,Girls tour of 1987 and keep that show as what the Crue were to me. All Bad Things Must Come To An End as they dubbed this last tour, couldn't have said it better myself Motley Crue. If this was your first time seeing them live I am sure you enjoyed it, if you have seen them multiple times, my bet is you feel the way I do (don't go away mad, just go away). Sayonara Motley it was fun over the years but it's now time to say good-bye. Alice Cooper absolutely stole this show from the headliners. Good times!!!

Motley Crue setlist for Edmonton.

Motley Crue at Rexall Place in Edmonton.

Poster.

T-shirt front.

T-shirt back.