Weekly Update – Rocktober 10, 2008

John Legend at the Wellmont Theater in Montclair N.J. on Sat. Nov. 29 and Mon. Dec. 1. Pre-sale tickets for American Express cardholders go on sale Sat. Rocktober 11 at 10:00 a.m until Fri. Rocktober 17 at 10:00 p.m. General public on sale is Sat. Rocktober 18 at 10:00 a.m.  $60 – $87.

Tim McGraw at The Mohegan Sun on Thurs. & Fri. Dec. 4 & 5. Tickets on sale this morning at 10:00 a.m.  $50 – $90.

Todd Rundgren at The Blender Theater on Fri. & Sat. Dec. 26 and 27. Tickets on sale next Fri. Rocktober 17 at 10:00 a.m.  Approximately $35 (based on other venue prices as the NY prices have not been announced).

New York Dolls at New York Fillmore at Irving Plaza on Sat. Dec. 27 Tickets on sale tomorrow morning at 10:00 a.m.  $38.50.

Harry Connick Jr. at City Center Theater in NY on Fri. & Sat. Nov. 28 and 29. Also performing at the NJ Performing Art Center on Fri. Dec. 4. This is his Holiday Celebration Tour. Ticket information to follow.

Other items:

Its official: Chinese Democracy will be released in 2008 after 13 long years. Best Buy will release it on Sunday Nov. 23. Wow, I can’t believe it. I wonder if Dr. Pepper is going to follow through on their promise to give everyone, except for Axl and Slash (why not Slash, he had nothing to do with it?) a free can of soda. If you are going to see the new movie that is out today- “Body of Lies”- the ending credits will have a song from the album and it’s called “If the World.” This tune actually features the guitar work of both Robert Finck and Buckethead, who have both departed from G’N’R.

Oasis has released “Dig Out Your Soul” and customer reviews on I-Tunes give it an average rating of 4. Rolling Stone wasn’t as gracious as they gave it only 2.5 stars. I listened to the 30 second previews and some of it doesn’t sound so bad- maybe that is a sign that it is bad as I am not a big fan of this band.

Saliva has comeback this week with a new single “Family Reunion” off their fifth studio album “Cinco Diablo” which is set for release on Dec. 16. Singer, Josey Scott, has been sober for the past 9 months and credits Nikki Sixx for setting him on the right path. Imagine that? You know it’s 2008.

Tesla has released their seventh studio album- Forever More- check out the review on my page already listed.

Seal has recorded a cover version of Sam Cooke’s extraordinary “Change is Gonna Come” and I’ll give it thumbs up. It’s hard for me to hear someone else sing this song but then again it is so special that a contemporary artist such as Seal can keep the music of Mr. Sam Cooke alive and relevant to today’s generation. As always we need to pass on down to each generation, the greatness of Sam Cooke. You can check out the video here at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qXH13skpsNo

“Fix It” by Ryan Adams & the Cardinals is the new single released off of their upcoming album “Cardinology” due out Rocktober 28. Take a listen, I like it.

Joining the cast of Celebrity Rehab with Dr. Drew on VH1 will be Steven Adler (original drummer for Guns & Roses) and Tawny Kitaen (remember her? She was married to David Coverdale and was in Whitesnake’s video “Here I Go Again”).Jeff Conaway will be profiled again. The first show airs Fri. Rocktober 17.

Forgot to mention this but the nominees for the 2009 Rock & Roll Hall of Fame class were announced and they are: Metallica, Run-DMC, The Stooges, Jeff Beck, Chic, Wanda Jackson, War, Little Anthony & the Imperials and Bobby Womack. I say Metallica, Run, Stooges and Beck are a shoe-in. Little Anthony & the Imperials should get in. The others are a long shot in my opinion, although all of them had some great tunes.

Naughty By Nature is reuniting and will release a new album in the first quarter of 2009. Their last appearance together was in 2006, a one night engagement at BB Kings. Say “Aaay, Oooh, Aaay, Oooh!!!”

The Black Eyed Peas are due to finish their fifth album “The E.N.D.” next week. No timetable for release but should be before the end of the year. Will.i.am is predicting that this will be the last holiday season that you’ll be able to walk into a record store and buy one. I think he is right, Virgin Records is the only store I can think of in NYC that sells music.

Classic rock station Q 104.3 in NY has compiled their list of the top 10 songs from the best years of classic rock . You can check it out at http://www.q1043.com/pages/top10songs.html

Paul McCartney is furious with McDonald’s for using his image in his hometown of Liverpool. McCartney is a long time vegetarian campaigner and also an ambassador for People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals. I know someone who doesn’t like the Beatles but this has to put a smile on her face.

Eddie Van Halen is getting married again. Over the summer he asked for Janie Liszewski’s hand in marriage. Janie also serves as his manager.

Ok this week’s I-Tunes shuffle landed on “Jailbreak” from the same album title by Thin Lizzy (TL). This song definitely cracks my top 10 songs of all-time. No matter how many times I hear it I have to crank it up- LOUD.Jailbreak was the sixth album released by the band from Ireland with bassist and singer, Phil Lynott, at the helm. Unfortunately, the music world lost Mr. Lynott back on Jan. 4, 1986 at the young age of 36 to multiple organ failure. The boys formed back in 1969 and if you try and keep up with the members of Lizzy it will make you dizzy. The band is still together today. Jailbreak was really TL’s break-through album when it was released in March 1976, most likely due to the world-wide known tune “The Boys Are Back in Town.” Scott Gorham (still currently with the band) and Brian Robertson were the twin guitarists for the album and that was the sign of the times back in the 1970’s as Skynyrd and the Allman’s had multiple guitarists. It also inspired bands like Iron Maiden who covered “Massacre” (great song) from TL’s “Johnny the Fox” album.

This classic album kicks off with the aforementioned “Jailbreak.” This song also takes me back to MBIA’s boot camp class where we worked out to this song. The second track “Angel from the Coast” highlights that double sound on guitar. The guitar solos are sweet and Brian Downey’s stick work really keeps this song flowing. “Running Back” is a nice soft song that has the traditional TL sound. “Romeo and the Lonely Girl” makes me feel like I should be at a pub in Ireland with a mug in my hand singing along with the rest of the bar as we wail “Oh Poor Romeo Sitting out on his own-ee-oo..” C’mon this is a classic. Side one ends with the guitar driven “Warriors”- how cool is the echo effect on Lynott’s voice? This song is just flat out cool. The guitar solo is amazing and I am astonished on how this band doesn’t get the credit it deserves. Put a set of good headphones on and listen to this beauty.

Side two kicks off with the often played “The Boys Are Back in Town.” This song is huge. Think about it, when you hear it you instantly know it and I know it brings you back to some where in your life. This song makes me think of all the summers I spent with my grandmother, grandfather and uncle in Otisville, NY. “Friday they’ll be dressed to kill down at Ginos bar and grill.” Go back and take a listen and let it bring you back. “Fight or Fall” is a soft song where Lynott’s vocals are crystal clear and you can tell this man had a passion and compassion for the music he made. The production of his vocals is really different in this song and the guitar solo behind his voice is real nice. “The Cowboy Song” is my all-time favorite Thin Lizzy song and it is the third track on this side of the album. I love the bass work and the drums as they break into the rocking part of the song about a minute into it. “Roll me over and turn me over let me keep spinning till I hit the ground.” This song has everything you want in a rock tune- a grooving beat that has its ups and downs, finger snapping, “air guitaring” and sing out loud lyrics. This classic album ends with the smashing “Emerald.” Listen to the arrangement in this song- it sounds like it was recorded yesterday. Again with a good set of headphones you are quickly off into another world. The dueling guitar solos will have you pushing the headphones tighter to your head so that you are completely engulfed as the song rides out into the sunset. Whew what a ride. C’mon you know have 35 minutes in your car to listen to this classic album or 35 minutes on the train to work. No more excuses, take my word you will not be disappointed. The more you listen to this album you realize why Thin Lizzy was voted into VH1’s top 100 hard rock acts of all time. Crisp and clean!!!

On this day back in 1939, the real Eleanor Rigby died in Liverpool, she’s buried in the St. Peter’s church there.

Back on this day in 1979, the film “The Rose” starring Bette Midler was released. The film is loosely based on the life of Janis Joplin.

If you were born on this date today, you share a birthday with Mr. Diamond Dave-David Lee Roth and also Ms. Tanya Tucker.

CD Review: Forever More- Tesla

CD Review: “Forever More” by Tesla released on Tues. Rocktober 7, 2008:

By now every one of you out there should know how I feel about this band, there is not a harder working band out there and they have been doing it for 20 plus years now. Since reforming again in 2000 after a six-year hiatus, the boys from Sacramento, California have been touring almost every year and have been releasing new material, some classic tunes-along with some never released tunes (just this past August) and of course some covers- Real to Reel. “Into the Now” was released in 2004 and they blew the cover off the ball with that album. Now in 2008, they have exploded on to the scene again with the super solid “Forever More.” I seem to gravitate to bands that have passion and love the music they create. Tesla fulfills this criterion and just like fine wine, they only get better. One can not easily define this album to a certain musical style; it has it moments of softness (“Pvt. Ledbetter” “The First Time”), muscle (“One Day at a Time,” “The Game”), encouragement (“I Wanna Live”) and determination (“Falling Apart”). Now some might say that this album is not as “heavy” as prior albums (see “Psychotic Supper”) but if you listen carefully even the softer songs pack a nice punch.

Jeff Keith’s vocals are as strong as ever and the band has always been tight, this album is no exception. This is the first album with new guitarist, Dave Rude, who replaced Tommy Skeoch a few years back. He is the only “newcomer” on this album but he fits right in with the traditional heavy power chords that all Tesla fans are familiar with. If you are a Tesla fan (and how can you not be is the first question that enters my mind) this is a “must have” album. If you are a casual fan or not even a fan, give it a try- I promise you there are songs that you will enjoy.

As with most Tesla albums, they come right at you and the first four songs off of this album really spotlight how far this band has come together as they mix the sing-along choruses, great solos, along with their traditional melodic up and down arrangements that make them sound as fresh today as they did back in the 1980’s. Tesla has gone through many different music environments during their long career and yet in 2008 are still very relevant. There are very few bands that have survived but this band has persevered and it appears they still have a lot left to give. “I Wanna Live” is already on classic rock radio and is destined for stardom. The video is now available on their website www.teslatheband.com . The title track kicks it off with a heavy bass groove that will have you bopping your head up and down. “One Day at a Time” is a “kick it into gear” song that is perfect for working out. It’s a hard driving song with a great solo in the middle. “So What” will be a fan favorite at live shows, I can tell already. It is pure fun with a chorus that you will not be able to get out of your head. “Who cares? You’re telling everybody that the world turned bad.. So What?”

The next four songs turn to the softer side of Tesla but the arrangements in each of the slow songs rise as the chorus comes to the forefront and you find yourself swaying back and forth imagining yourself up in front of many fans belting it out like Mr. Keith. “Just In Case” and “Falling Apart” should be classic rock radio friendly and really are great sing along songs. The background vocals on “Falling Apart” really adds a nice touch and makes the sound more complete. The stand out in the middle of the album is “Breaking Free.” It sort of reminds me of “Changes” from Mechanical Resonance with its slow groove and the bridge in this song is fantastic that leads to the guitar solo. “All of Me” is a fast moving song where I can picture a mash pit forming quickly at their shows- not that this occurs at their shows but the pace of the song is what makes me think that this could happen.

The last four songs of the album capture the essence of what Tesla is all about. The songs are thoughtful, passionate, emotional and an uplifting ride that proves the growth of this band, both musically and lyrically. “The First Time” is a catchy rock tune for anyone who has that someone special in their life. “Be everything you want to be, you’re extraordinary.” I have so many ideas for a video for this song, so Tesla if you’re reading this I can direct it for free if you want. This is my favorite song on the disc. “Pvt. Ledbetter” is a beautiful song that really tugs at your heart. This could be the best song on the album. The song is a sad tale about all the brave men and women who are fighting this war, it may be tough for some families to listen to but again it’s a touching salute to the American soldier. “In a Hole Again” has a phenomenal bridge to solo that should really impress everyone. This song is an epic journey as the hooks in this song will grab you, pull you in and make you realize how talented this band really is. The album ends on a high note with “The Game” as Brain Wheat’s bass lines really stand out on this track. As usual, Troy Luccketta keeps this Telsa train rolling along with his mad skills on the drums. Frankie Hannon and Dave Rude are a one-two punch on guitar and I have to say they are one of the best duos out there today. Just see them once live and you will know what I am talking about. And what about Jeff Keith? He is the man and to me, the perfect frontman for this rock band called Tesla. There is an additional song on I-Tunes and it just says “Bonus Track.” I will go out on the ledge and say the name of the song is “My Way” and it’s the shortest track but it rocks as Troy’s drumming will have your head snapping up and down in no time.

Tesla has done it again, they have put out another high quality album and as a fan you can’t ask for anything more. This band is so consistent and has always been one of the best live bands out there for many years. It amazes me how they seem to fly under the radar but it doesn’t matter because the people who appreciate their body of work know what they are getting. I say “So What!!” “Forever More” is a superb follow-up to “Into The Now” – which is no small feat because a six year hiatus meant that they had so much new material waiting to come out of them. This new album has passion and it’s real. Feel it and buy it now!!! I can’t wait to see them at the Blender Theater on Rocktober 28.