Turn to Page 9

I've said it before....Texas fucking rocks!  You all know I fell in love with hard Texan rockers such as Born & Raised and Awake in Theory and now on the lighter side I am lovin the punk pop sound coming out of Dallas.  If you like the stylings of Sum 41 or Blink 182 (like me) then I have a new number to introduce to you!

Page 9 is just another prime example of how diverse the Texas music scene is.  Based out of Dallas this band is made up of 4 self-described nerds - Josh, Linden, Kelsey and Nate.  You know what I like best about nerds?  They're smart.  For these four, making music is their business and their damn good at their business.  Their sound has a radio friendly quality that has the potential to be picked up by modern rock and rock radio stations on an international level.  When they hit the charts they won't be stopped!

Touring Texas, playing bars and music festivals is just a part of what they're busy doing to get there.  They are also currently in the process of releasing their new EP, The Serenity Chronicles.  Page 9 has grown as a band musically and personally during the making of this album - individually, they've gone through some tough shit - leading each of them to search for their own calm or "serenity".  They wanted to give fans - old and new - the opportunity to experience and grow with it as well, so they're releasing it in stages... or in "chronicles" so to speak, bonding the relationship they have with their fans that much more.  Like I said....smart.  Give them a listen...and when the time comes that they do hit the charts, remember I told you so...... ; )

To hear and learn more about Page 9 check out their site at http://page9.tumblr.com/TSC

I Got Friends in Low Places

"I got friends in low places, where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away"....and those places happen to be in the Coombs/Errington area of Vancouver Island.  This past weekend I had a fucking blast with those friends - a good blast unlike the shit that happened in Boston and West last week that devastated families and communities.  My blast consisted of communities and families coming together under the celebration and appreciation of music.
I spent Friday night at the Frontiersman Pub and Grill with my brother and friends listening to rockers Wes Weldon and Colin Perry of Double Trouble.  These guys fucking cover everything!  I heard everything from Turn the Page, Wicked Game, Kansas City (thanks again Wes!) and of course I Got Friends in Low Places.  Wes is a guitar god and Colin can fucking play anything, including horns, flute, keyboards...you name it, he can pick it up and play - and holy fuck, what a voice!
If that wasn't enough, they were later joined by local musician Dave Marco who definitely knows his way around a tune as well.  I've only heard him play a couple of times and already I'm a huge fan.  These guys are so versatile that they don't come with a set play-list.  They read the audience and then play what the audience wants to hear.  Sometimes it's Classic Rock, sometimes it Blues or Country and sometimes it's all of the above - on this night it was all of the above!  Yell out a song you want to hear and these guys will fucking play it on the spot!
Saturday night I went to a dance at the Errington hall.  This was put on as a fund-raiser for the Air Cadets and wouldn't you fucking know it, Wes and Colin were back.  Only this time they brought the whole fucking band - The Enablers!  Although I've enjoyed Double Trouble a number of times around the island this was my first taste of The Enablers.  And again I was fucking blown away by their talent and versatility!  These are seasoned musicians who have played with a number of bands over the past 30 years and let me tell you, their experience fucking shows!  Wes is such a good electric guitar player that during one of his solo's (which by the way, happened to be a Rolling Stones cover) if I had closed my eyes I would have fucking sworn Clapton was on the stage. Their drummer Phil Hagen, who also sings, had me cracking up with his sense of humor and off the cuff lyrics.  Guest singers hit the stage too! Chrissy (hope I spelled that right, hun) can knock the queen of soul on her ass and Johnny Rockstar (gotta learn your real name darlin) has a voice and a look that can leave girls trembling in front of him!
Again, these guys, like Double Trouble play fucking everything.  As it happened, Saturday was April 20th, otherwise known as 420, so they even did a tribute to Hip Hop and Reggae.  It was fucking awesome!  Roll up baby!  At 11:30 pm I was outside whining about how this was my first 420 in over 20 years that I hadn't had a hoot.  Let's just say that I didn't have to break my streak.  Fuck I love rock bands.......... ; ) 

These guys are for hire!  And they come highly recommended by me!! Planning a party, wedding, BBQ on Vancouver Island that you would love to have live music at?  Contact Wes through his website for Double Trouble here > http://doubletroubleduo.jigsy.com/  I'm sure if you're interested in having the whole band - The Enablers, you can talk to Wes about that too!

Rockin Out at Joe's Apartment

April 13, Joe's Apartment in Vancouver was fucking rocking out and I was there!  I have to say I got my moneys worth and more!  Four bands were performing that evening and everyone of them fucking rocked.

The night started with Latenite Automatic.  This Vancouver based band blew me and everyone else in the joint away right from the start.  The lead singer was already reminding me a little of Jim Morrison of The Doors with his voice and stage style but when he started sneaking shots onstage....well, need I say more?  I had the opportunity to talk to a couple of the guys later and discovered they're a revolving/evolving band, jamming with different musicians at different times....great way to keep your sound fresh.  I managed to score one of their CD's and it has already been added to my library of favorites.  Here, check em out, and try and tell me that Jimmy isn't fucking re-incarnated!

Sell music on itunes at ReverbNation.com

Also taking the stage that night were Vancouver's own, The Grand!  Let me tell you, these guys can fucking rock!  Hell, don't take my word for it - watch this live performance of Rebel Son, get a taste of what I got and try to fucking argue with me....

Headlining the night were yet another Vancouver uber talent, Static in the Stars!  These rockers are getting a lot of attention locally and deservedly so.  They've been raising their voices all over the radio waves and that night they fucking had everyone raising their voices AND their hands.  Get up rockers and fucking Raise Your Voice!

But the band I went through the expense and travel for were my boys, October Sky.  They traveled a little further than I did to play Vancouver.  From Montreal Quebec, they've been touring Canada the last couple of weeks, and when I discovered they were going to be this close to me....well, fuck, I couldn't let the opportunity to see them perform live pass me by.

I fucking love these guys!  Their music is original and new.  They've managed to recreate sound in a way that's haunting and addictive.  The only disappointment I had was their set was too short, but of course that wasn't their fault.  I could've rocked out to October Sky the whole night. Here, check out their video for Green and Beautiful from their second album, The Aphotic Season, a great political song reminding us of what we have to lose.....

Their stage presence live is incredible, high energy and great sound! Not to mention they're sexy as hell!  Oh that's right girls....and Karl Raymond, that smokin hot front man is single!!   I was so fucking happy to hear one of my favorite October Sky tunes, Prisoner of Nothing played live.  Being a free spirit and all, I could really relate to this song. Not anymore, because now I'm a fucking prisoner to October Sky.  Next time, boys, I'll bring my handcuffs and really show you what a good little prisoner I can be.  On second thought, you might have to keep me locked up a little longer due to bad behaviour..........; )

Catch these links.....
Latenite Automatic
Like em on facebook
Become a fan on reverbnation
Follow em on twitter

The Grand
Like em on facebook
Follow em on twitter
Check out their website

Static in the Stars
Like em on facebook
Follow em on twitter
Preview their tunes on soundcloud
Check their site with even more links

October Sky
Like em on facebook
Follow em on twitter
Subscribe to them on youtube
Catch everything October Sky on their site - music, videos, info!

Jagsters Jam

The times that have always gotten me into the most fucking trouble are the parties that spontaneously break out.  I had one of those moments this past weekend.
I stopped in for a quick beer with a friend at the Frontiersman Bar and Grill in Coombs, BC.  And wouldn't you know it?  We found a party.  Local musicians had come together for an afternoon jam and to help raise money for a local man diagnosed with brain cancer.  The place was fucking packed!
The fact that there was standing room only didn't bother me in the least.  We were rocked out honky-tonk style by local country, blues and rock artists! Now you may ask....where's the trouble in that?
Well, you see, I was supposed to be cooking supper for 6...instead I was swilling beer and rocking out!  To my credit, I did refuse the many trays of shooters that passed my way, though I may have had 2 too many beers.  Here's a little taste of how Coombs rocks out!

Shawn Carle

Free Electronic Press Kits template from ReverbNation.com

The Boney Finger Band

Born & Raised - Ghosts of Tomorrow

Is there a better way to spend Easter Sunday than diving into the depths of great metal music?  I don't fucking think so!  And you know me....if I'm gonna rock out, I'm gonna rock out to the best!  It didn't take too many clicks of my mouse to find a great metal band out of Texas.  Fuck, I really have to get to Texas one day because those boys fucking know how to rock hard!

Born & Raised is a prime example of how to do it right!  At first listen I was hooked.  They have that hard rock metal sound with a touch of blues rhythms that turns me on in a way like nothing else.  Electric guitar like it was meant to be played, drums that keep the rhythm without getting boring, and those fucking vocals that awaken the darkest part of my soul, yet lift me back into the light.

These boys have gone through a number of member changes and as you listen through their music library, you can hear the evolution of this band.  I've only heard a few songs by this killer band and already I'm craving more!  Fuck it.... here listen to this while I visit bornandraisedband.com to buy this fucking hard hitting CD, Ghosts of Tomorrow.....

Okay, I'm back....my credit card hardly dented at all yet my CD collection improved greatly by the addition of Born & Raised.  I know this won't be the last time I'm raving about this band as I hear they're working on new music right now between live gigs.  Fuck I'm cool.... and you can be too when your blasting this music out of your speakers.........; )

More links to Born & Raised - 

Born & Raised on facebook

Born & Raised on Reverbnation

Born & Raised on twitter

Sully Erna - Avalon

What is music?  It's a question I've been hearing a lot lately and it is one that is posed to all the musicians who make up the Avalon LP in Sully Erna's documentary Journey to Avalon.  It was fascinating to hear their answers and after each answer I said hell yeah! That's what music is!

Music is an energy, and we're energy, and so it affects us thoroughly ~ Lisa Guyer (vocals)

Music is the International language, no matter where you go it communicates in a very kind of primal way ~ Niall Gregory (drums, percussion)

 I believe it's in our genetic code.  I do believe it's has been passed down, before written time through history.  I'm sure we were making music before it was ever written down or even acknowledged, so it's been there I'm sure since day one ~ Chris Lester (guitars, bass, mandolin) 

It's a spectacular way of connecting with other human beings, in a way that you really can't do any other way ~ Chris Decato (keyboards, midi, vocals)

Music is built off of vibrations, and for some reason when they resonate with our body it creates emotion, and that's the miracle of music, that's the gift of music ~ Sully Erna (vocals, piano, guitars, drums, percussion)

I've been enjoying my copy of Sully Erna's Avalon since it's release in 2010.  I’ve been able to relate to the songs on a deeply personal level.  It made me fall even more in love with Sully…and I already loved him in a big way through his work with Godsmack!  He has no idea who I am and no idea how much he understands me.  I just can't get enough of him, so when the box set for Avalon became available, well fuck....I had to have it!

The box set includes a ton of fucking stuff... t-shirt, cap, necklace, signed poster, 3 DVDs, the CD of course, Sully's book - The Paths We Choose (great read by the way), and my favorite, the above mentioned documentary.  I ordered early enough to get a numbered box set! #523 - my birthday...May 23 hehehehe!

Music fascinates me, enlivens me and comforts me...so to watch and listen to what musicians are feeling while they're making music is an incredible high for me.  The documentary goes on to explain why Sully chose these particular musicians to bring together his vision of Avalon.  He couldn't have made better choices for this project.  Lisa Guyer, David Stefanelli, Niall Gregory, Chris Lester, Irena Chirkova,Tim Therault and Chris Decato are incredible musicians and together along with Sully they have created a fucking amazing emotional sound experience!

Sully also gets a little personal…talking about his lyrics and where they come from – his life experience (Broken Road), his heart (My Light) and his soul (Avalon).  He also goes on to explain that even though these songs mean so much to him, he understands and enjoys how others listening can take them and relate them to their own experiences and emotions.

It’s an incredible documentary, part of an incredible collection of Avalon memorabilia.  Sully even appears shirtless in a number of scenes….now to just get him out of those pants………; )

It's not too late!  You can still get your box set here > www.sullyernaavalon.com

Oblidian

Are you one of those people wondering what the hell happened to metal?  Remember the greats we used to rock out to? -uh, excuse me....still fucking rock out to - Black Sabbath, Metallica, Iron Maiden, etc.... Well, that kind of metal is making a huge comeback.  How could it not?  It's fucking great music.  There are many retro heavy metal bands out there, putting their spin on a sound that's been rocking our world since the eighties.  One of the best that I've heard recently, oops, let me correct that...One of the best that I have EVER heard is Oblidian.

Rapid Healing is the first song on their first album, self-titled simply Oblidian.  Take a listen and try to fucking disagree with me....

Upload your music for free at ReverbNation.comfacebook.com/oblidianmusic

These guys have a sound that is all their own but is still reminiscent of the greats of the past mixed in with some greats of the present  and that's just their first album.  Their second rocks even harder.  If you're into hard rocking metal like Disturbed and Mudvayne, you have to check out Oblidian II!  Get in the fucking pit!! Here comes Feed the Rage!

Learn how to place music on itunes at ReverbNation.com

Lucian Tu, musician extraordinaire, writes and plays all the music as well as produces.  He produced both Oblidian albums...hey record labels,wake the fuck up and take note.  Michael "Mudpig" Moreno writes the incredible lyrics and lends his voice, oh, that by the way is fucking made for metal music, to make up Oblidian.  Thus far they are a recording band, but I have it on good authority that they've recently took on a bass player, Jon Reed  - y'know ...in case you were wondering where that killer bass was coming from -  and are working their way to perform live!

I've purchased both albums because bands that have this much fucking talent deserve to be supported.  That being said, if you follow them on facebook at facebook.com/oblidianmusic you'll find they're always fucking giving away tunes!  Rock and fucking roll baby.......... ; )