K Rock Gets Chromed

I'm all about promotion. Especially when the promotion are for someone that so well deserves the promoting. Hard work, dedication, talent, energy is what Chrome Cabot brings to the table along with a Rock Cuisine. Tonight they got their first interview on K Rock (Newfoundlands classic rock) and it was nothing but a blast listening to it. They bring a deadly ol scoff of classic rock tunes from Sabbath, Halen and Stone temple Pilots along side of their very own songs. The full hour show was deadly, if you haven't yet heard Chrome Cabot or their new album Rock Cuisine than you gotta pick it up in St Johns at HMV or Freds or by the end of the month on Itunes. It will bring your nostalgic love of 70s and 80s rock and hit you straight in the face full force. Congrats boys on your first interview and much more to come.

Bad Ingredients For A Killer Album

Gritty, filthy, angry, but most importantly pure. That's Scott H. Biram in a nutshell. He's a one man band that's taking over the Texas scene by storm. Forcing his brand of country punk music onto the crowns in the wake of the storm he stabs your ear with the twang of the guitar and raw lyrics. There might be dirt under the fingernails of this Texas born guitarist and lyricist but there's realism in his music like no other artist out there today. Before becoming the one man band he is today Scott has been in a straight out punk band called the Thangs and two bluegrass bands called Scott Biram and the Salt Peter Boys and The Bluegrass Drive by. But on his own is where he really shines, doing his own thing what he wants to do and how he wants to do it. It really works for him.
In his new album Bad Ingredients Scott mixes the anger and angst in punk along with the good time drinking and lyricism of country with a hint of blues. A stand out song for me on the album is a bluesy number called Born In Jail, its probably the rawest songs I have heard in a long time killer blues guitar and punch drunk lyrics. If your a fan of The Black Keys than you'll respect the shit out of Scott H. Biram. Clever lyrics is one thing that I love in songs, lyrics like "I can't seem to find you, no matter how hard I try, you always wind up missing, while I always wind up blind" on Wind Up Blind always winds up opening up my ears a little more and listening to each and every word a little closer. All of these songs are sung, played, produced and recorded by Scott himself but not all written. Scott does an amazing rendition of bluegrass legend Bill Monroe's song Memories Of You Sweetheart which is respectively less punkish but sounds amazing with his raw voice and guitar. He also tears the blues guitar up on Lightning Hopkins Have You Ever Loved A Woman, much respect. The whole album is not only worth listening to once but over and over and over again. It's a perfect blend of Contry-Punk-Blues, Bad Ingredients left a good taste in my mouth.

Moby Grape - 8:05 (Mike Douglas Show, 1968)

You can't deny the talent that exploded in the late 60's and well into the 70's. Music was more than just making money or earning a living. They wrote songs that not only meant something but also felt like something. Most of the artists such as Buffelo Springfeild, The Rolling Stones, Beatles, etc went on to World wide fame. Unfortunately not every band went onto fame and fortune. Moby Grape falls under the talented fallen category. Wrapped in a world of drugs and money was just too much for Skip Spence and company. Skip went nuts much like Syd Barrett, the lost soul of Pink Floyd. Its a shame and may we never forget the beauty that is Moby Grape.

Put Some Chrome To Your Dome

After a long anticipation of their new up coming album its finally here. Chrome Cabot have just finished the mastering of their debut album Rock Cuisine. I've been privilege enough to have a pre-release listen to the album, straight out of lead singer Ches Packs hands. Today I laid back on my bed and strapped on my head phones around my ears and soaked in what is a delicious Rock Cuisine. It was so tasty, I devoured every track like it was my last meal. At the end I wanted more. First off I just have to say that lead guitarist Jason Sheppard has got to be one of if not the best heavy metal guitarist in Newfoundland today, he rips through songs like Bottoms Up and Quite Moist with blazing riffs that will make your fingers bleed from just listening to them. From fast riffs to sick solos Jace proved his self on this album as a talent to be reckoned with. But "Snake" isn't the only talent that shines on this album, he is complimented by the steady deep base lines from Dave Pittman, the beginning of Aim To Please you can hear a funk bass line similar to that of Flea from Red Hot Chili Peppers pouring out of the speakers. He and Jace makes the perfect combo where one only grows better and heightens the others sound. The heavy drum beat of Robbie Welcher can be found in each and every one of the albums tracks. He brings the power that every heavy metal band that brought to the table. You will have no problem banging your head as Robbie bangs the drums all over this album. Last but absolutely not least of the fab four band members, with charisma and stage presence that rivals that of David Lee Roth himself, is the one and only Ches Pack. With a voice that sounds that of the illegitimate love child of Brian Johnson and Paul Stanley. You can hear the influence of ACDC and Kiss all over this album. Pack brings the voice to the album full of talented musicians. He brings the classic classic rock voice. Today's music has no passion or thought put into it, but Rock Cuisine has passion poured all over it. You can tell these guys love what they are doing and it shows through each and every track. Their lyrics are cleaver and well thought out along with the music that fits nicely over the lyrics. I'm proud to have the first taste of the Rock Cuisine and its not a meal you'll get sick of. So buy this album, blare it all over Newfoundland out through car windows or dorm room doors. Make people hear it if they don't already know and spread the word of Chrome. Like I did, go home, put some Chrome to your dome, play it loud and play it often.

Your Kiss Is Something To Bragg About

There's no secret that Newfoundland is has an abundance of music history. But the difference from 20 years ago and today is that its not just traditional Newfoundland with a mix of country music anymore. Yesterday it was the Harry Hibbs, Dick Nolans, Great Big Seas, just to name a few. Today artists around Newfoundland have taken a more modern twist to their music. Its not a bad thing at all. Bands like Hey Rosetta and The Gramercy Riffs are touring Canada and the States, while astounding listeners all the way from sea to shining sea. Today St. John's is crawling with live acts, you can go any night of the week on george st or water st and catch a live show of some of the best sounding Canadian artists today. Us Newfies have the pleasure and luck to see such bands as The Novaks, Pathalogical Lovers, Navigators, Monday Nights, the list can just go on forever.
But one of the best known and respected artists around St. John's is a character by the name of Mark Bragg. He has done everything from produce and session play for just about everyone around town. Hes also one of the quirkiest songwriters in Newfoundland, sounding much like a mix between Bruce Springsteen, Captain Beefheart and Tom Waits. His music has a true mixture that just about anyone can enjoy. Mark has just released a new album by the name of Your Kiss and I honestly can't say enough good things about this album. It has everything from rocking songs like Your Boys Home to sour sweet ballads such as The Cutter to Texan style fast beat songs like Carl Ray. One of the standout songs has got to be the fun loving sing along song Roll Baby Roll, the catchy rhyming scheme of the lyrics makes ya just want to listen to it again and again. Bragg has a way with lyrics but also with the arrangement of songs which is seen in the song You Be The Boy. I just fell in love with this album as soon as I wraped my headphones around my head and sat back to listen. The horn section is second to none and fits extremely well with the heavy bass lines and drum beat. Well done to Bragg on Making Your Kiss a huge success. I honestly don't think that I'll be listening to anything else this week. The album just takes a hold of you and there is no way of getting sick of songs. Each song has a distinct sound that is different than each other. Theres a wide variety of sound on this album and I would suggest this album to any music lover out there. Bragg is king just as his album cover shows.

The Soul Of Blues

Close your eyes and be taken back to a time when there was no video games, tv, radio, or malls. All there were was wood around you with just your imagination and a heart full of soul. They sang about a life they lived and a life they were about to live. Thats the blues. Heartache and pain were plentiful, but singing about lost loves, little money or drowning your sorrow in hard cheap liquor quenched the thirst of the very life they lived. Theres a big difference, to me, from listening to a man/woman who grew up in a good life than one that had to scratch their way through poverty and sing their way to the top of the ladder. Personally I prefer the latter. The Blues is the latter. From the deep woods of the delta, working on cotton fields as slaves or living on the streets preaching the blues, the life they lived was a hard traveled road. A one that carried on right from the gut through the throat and out the mouth. A true blues performer can get his message across with just simple words, but with such a powerful message that not even the greatest poet could say it any better. Probably because it wasn't just written down from imagination but from real life experiences. To me theres nothing better than having listening to a bluesman sitting outside with his acoustic guitar, striped down and raw, with nothing else only the strum of the guitar and his raw and barely recognizable voice. Its the soul of music, these guys didn't one day decide to create a band because it was cool, or because of the money, or drugs, or women. They simply did it because it was in them to do. They rarely made a living at it besides street performing and only then enough to feed themselves. They sang public domain songs in the cotton fields to get through the day or take their minds off the pain in their hands from picking cotton. They started off with sticks with a single string on them and plucked it pretending to be a national star and not with a gibson les paul or a strat. They worked their way to the top and made it their. even if it was way after their time. At least they got there in time.

Son Seals Burns Up The Stage

I haven't been writing this blog very much lately. I have been busy with work and wasn't extremly inspired by much of anything these days to give a blog on.
I am a huge fan of yard sales, garage sales, church sales, flea markets, etc. You can never be too sure on what treasures you can stumple across at these
joyous events. Me and my wonderful fiance Virginia share this love, me falling towards the music and book sections and she towards the vintage clothing and
everything else sections. A few weeks ago I discovered probably the greatest gem I have ever found at a yard sale. A vintage 80's record player with stand up
speakers and a wonderful sound. With a 50 dollar price tag I could not resist. So just recently I could listen to my vinyl with great clearity and crisp sound
that I was so used to. As soon as I brought it home I started listening to my old blues favorites that Virginia brought me a handfull of from the states. Oh
what a great feeling to have them back and relax to, to just close my eyes again and fade into the twang of a blues note that just keeps lingering on and on.
One album in particular that stood out to be as soon as I droped that needle down on it was Son Seals Live and Burning. I was just blown away at his beautiful
guitar work. What made it even better was how you can hear the crowd in the background just inches away from him feel the blues. They felt the way Seals played
that night and just couldn't be quite over it. From Seals blues licks and AC Reeds Jazz Sax, the two of them trading off and the crowd benifiting from each
back and forth fight to the finish. The only winners were the crowd at Wise Fools Pub in Chicago that night. They got every bit of Seals and his band, from start
to finish he took peoples breath away and left them in wonder of the blues. If your even in the mood to pop on a record, 8track, tape, cd or anything and just be
taken away. To hear blues at its truest form, a musician having fun with the crowd and bantering between sets. Its all about having fun on this live album and
you can hear it through every track and every note that Son Seals plays the blues not because of the profit but because he was born to play the blues, every
inch of his body from his feet stomping to his finders plucking hes all blues and blues is all him. Give Live and Burning a listen with your eyes closed and your
ears open to every lick of the guitar, blow of the horn, beat of the drum and pluck of the base.