Ideally, the role of the critic is to approach the subject from a place of impartiality, to examine its relative merits and flaws, and to offer and render an honest and unbiased review for the edification of the audience.
Right up front, I feel I should let you know that this ain’t gonna be that. Continue reading
John 5 is a renowned guitarist who has graced many well-known musical acts with his unique playing skills including Marilyn Manson, David Lee Roth, and Rob Zombie. As a solo artist with his own band, John 5 and the Creatures, In the vein of Joe Satriani, Yngwie Malmsteen, Steve Vai, and others who sit upon similar thrones, 5 takes on the role of guitar aficionado, or “shredder” with the confidence and (seemingly) the greatest of ease. His latest album, Invasion, is out now via 60 Cycle Hum Records. Continue reading
Guitar virtuoso John 5 joins us on this episode of the BREWtally Speaking Podcast!! Continue reading
Kiss has announced the second leg of their farewell End Of The Road Tour. The twenty-five newly added dates begin August 6 in Sunrise, FL and wraps-up in Oakland, CA on September 16. Continue reading
Ace Frehley
As I sat down to write this review I got to thinking, what could I say about Ace Frehley that hasn’t already been said over a 40 plus year career? What can be said about a performer that in his career has had hundreds of millions in record sales, toured the world multiple times, and been part of arguably the biggest band in the world (KISS), not only a part but a founding member? What can you say about a guitar legend and Rock and Roll Hall of Famer? I’m just not sure how to go about answering all those questions, but tonight he came to Riverside Park in the small Appalachian town of Whitesburg nestled deep in the mountains of Southeast Kentucky to play for his Kentucky rock soldiers! Continue reading
Ace Frehley
Spaceman
Entertainment One
No matter the status of his endlessly fluctuating relationship with his former bandmates/business partners, and no matter who’s stage left working his suit and wearing his makeup, Ace Frehley will always be the lead guitar player for KISS. One of the most influential axemen in rock and roll history (haters and naysayers be damned), Frehley has spent a large swath of the sixteen-plus years since his last public appearance with the band firmly cementing his reputation as the once-and-forever Space Ace, touring and releasing a string of albums that show off his singular talents and find inspiration in his formidable legacy. His newest release, Spaceman, plays up the KISS connections and corollaries more than any other project in his solo catalog, which should give longtime fans and followers plenty to sink their teeth into.
Kiss
KISS fans, you’re going to want to sit down for this one. There’s a chance that one of the most influential rock bands on the planet is about to say goodbye. Rumors abound in the world of metal that KISS is planning to do their last tour ever, and it might be happening in 2019. Continue reading
The 2nd annual Rock N Pod Expo will take place on August 25th in Nashville, Tennessee at The Nashville Palace. In this modern era of music local radio stations are routinely playing the same artists over and over or only spinning those well established bands that have been dominating the airwaves for years. That’s where the podcasts come in; the majority of these podcast hosts started their show simply because they were passionate about music. These podcasts also provide a platform to promote up and coming bands. The Nashville Rock n Pod Expo will feature over 25 participating podcasts that have combined downloads exceeding ten million. The Nashville Rock n Pod Expo is like the Comic Con of podcasts and it features much more than simply the hosts of these shows, there will be a variety of jaw dropping guests who will be appearing at the event as well. Now in its second year, the Nashville Rock n Pod Expo is a one-day event that celebrates all things rock, metal and podcasting. Continue reading
Gene Simmons, the legendary fire-breathing bassist from Rock and Roll Hall of Famers KISS has finally announced some of the specifics on his long-awaited solo box set, ‘The Vault.’
In a promotional video released today, Simmons details the lavish box, which he claims to have put three years’ work into. The 10-CD, 150-song set contains material spanning fifty years (back to when Gene was only fourteen), including many KISS classics in their embryonic form. The packaging (which the video warns may differ from the final product) resembles a small safe on wheels, and will contain not only the discs but a full-color book packed with photos from Simmons’ personal archives and stories behind the songs, an exclusive Gene Simmons action figure, an “In Gene We Trust” medallion, and a “very special surprise” (the accompanying video shows Gene going through boxes of one of a kind memorabilia in a massive warehouse).
Perhaps the most outlandish thing about ‘The Vault,’ though, is its method of distribution. Rather than go through traditional channels, ‘The Vault’ will be personally delivered to customers by Gene Simmons himself.
GeneSimmonsVault.com still bears a “Coming Soon” message. There’s no word yet on pricing.
You can check out the promo video here.
It has been a few days, but we are still recovering from an absolutely legendary weekend at Toyota Park. We witnessed several remarkable performances across the rock and metal genres from bands like Code Orange, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Clutch, Body Count, Godsmack, Amon Amarth, Avatar, and more. There were the classic artists like Ozzy Osbourne, Kiss, Megadeth, Anthrax, Slayer, and Metal Church while new comers like Aversed, Whores., Code Orange, Crobot, and more lit it up early in the day. Without these younger bands, there won’t be any of these festivals in the future, so make sure you get out early and support these young talents. The wide variety of bands playing the festival made for an eventful weekend as there was something for everyone attending. Today’s article will be about the performances on Friday. Before I dive into that, I’d like to talk about the other experiences at Chicago Open Air. Continue reading
