Photo Report from NAMM day 3

George Duke

Dave Mustaine (Megadeth) - NAMM show press conference 1/23/13




D'addario VIP Party NAMM

NAMM

Kyle Gass Band

 

Thin Lizzy - At the BBC

 

This holiday season there are some very cool presents for the heavy rock fan in your life (i.e. yourself, your dad, older brother, the dude you buy weeed from behind the gas station). Deep Purple has a killer looking 2LP/2CD collection of all their BBC sessions and there's a box set of all the good Whitesnake albums (meaning the ones up to 1982). But number one on everyone's wish list should be this monster 6CD/1DVD Thin Lizzy box set of all their BBC recordings. Jeezus, these guys were busy! Thin Lizzy was pumping out albums on a regular basis and touring constantly but still managed to do all of these killer radio sessions and concert broadcasts.

Thin Lizzy did a total of eighteen sessions for the BBC between 1971 and 1977 and all of them except four are represented here. Given the BBC's tendency to erase tapes from the library it's a miracle we have 3 very full CD's of primo performances in excellent fidelity. Disc one is with the early trio version of the band with Eric Bell on guitar. This is an era I'm the least familiar with so it's great to finally get acquainted with songs other than "The Rocker" and "Whiskey In The Jar." This line up was clearly Hendrix inspired but also trying to find their way. The playing is top notch and the songs are good but it's easy to see the band still had a ways to go before becoming the powerhouse unit we all know and love. Disc two is killer because about half of it is still the trio but with Gary Moore as the guitarist. I'd always wanted to hear more from this line up and now I finally have it. Too bad they never did a full album together in 1974 but the 12 songs here are the closest we'll ever get until we join Gary and mainman Phil Lynott upstairs. Gary smokes on a raunchy sounding "Little Darling" and the VD inspired "Sitamoia." There are very funky versions of "Showdown" and "It's Only Money" that hint at what Thin Lizzy would later do on "Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed."

The second half of disc two and all of disc three is the classic line up with Scott Gorham and Brian Robertson on twin lead guitars. Phil was tired of guitarists quitting the band leaving him as a duo with drummer Brian Downey. It's fun to compare their version of "It's Only Money" from just a few months after Gary's version and hear how it changed. It took awhile for this group to find their niche but when they did, they were totally unstoppable. I don't care how many times you've heard "Rosalie," "Emerald," "Warriors," "Killer Without A Cause" and all the other classics before, having different KICK ASS performances of them is totally mandatory. The arrangements are the same as the records but the takes are more raw and a bit faster.

Speaking of fast and raw, the other three CD's are all live recordings. It's well known that I love live albums and this is definitely my favorite half of this great box set. There's a show with Eric Bell from 1973 that opens with an excellent version of "The Rocker" and a Jimidelic "Gonna Creep Up On You." Brian Downey really pounds his drums hard and young Phil's voice is spectacular. A 1974 concert with Gorham/Robertson finds the band playing with even more confidence and laying down a heartfelt "Still In Love With You." The solos on "Showdown" are very funky. By 1981 Brian Robertson had been replaced by Snowy White and disc five contains a full hour from Hammersmith Odeon in London. The albums this line up made are kind of a mixed bag but they were still a potent live band. Heavy versions of current songs like "Angel Of Death," "The Pressure Will Blow" and "Killer On The Loose" mix well with the older classics. Disc six from 1983 captures the line up with John Sykes replacing Snowy White. Sykes definitely gave the band a heavier sound and he plays great. Sometimes he plays a bit too much and his use of pinch harmonics can be a bit annoying but that's a minor complaint. The addition of keyboards to the band was never really a plus in my book, either, but there's really no reason to complain about any live Thin Lizzy, is there?

The DVD contains the same "Live And Dangerous" show you've owned for years as well as the 1983 show that came as a bonus on the original DVD. There are appearances on Top Of The Pops from 1973 through 1981 that's the band lip synching to their current hits. It's cool but nothing you're going to watch too often. The footage of Gary Moore & Friends from 1979, however, you'll watch all the time. You've probably been drooling over it on youtube for a few years now but now you can enjoy it in better quality. Gary Moore, Cozy Powell, Scott Gorham and Phil Lynott make an incredible team. Too bad they didn't do more together.

Anyway, 2011 has been a pretty crappy year but you've been good. Do yourself a favor and end the year with a bang and treat yourself to this. You won't regret it. Special thanks to Joerg in Germany for hooking me up with a cheaper copy due to the shitty US economy and favorable exchange rate for Europeans. Cheers!

--Woody

Big Truck Keeps on Rollin'! Ripple Music is Proud to Announce the Signing and Debut Album from Ireland's Trucker Diablo

The folks at the 2011 Download Festival felt it.  Fans who saw them opening for Black Stone Cherry felt it.  The lucky masses who'll be at Hammerfest 2012 are about to feel it.  Soon everyone will know the band that Def Leppard's Joe Elliot has called "absolutely awesome stuff!"

Ripple Music, the home of authentic, retro rock and metal, is proud to announce the signing of Northern Ireland’s most explosive rock n’ roll import, Trucker Diablo!   After blowing away the crowds from the stages of 2011’s Download Festival, this Irish four-piece grabbed the attention of the U.S. rock label Ripple Music and immediately began working on plans to get the music heard around the world. The Devil Rhythm is a 40-plus minute thrill ride of rock n’ roll album that will have every head banging to the heavy groove and rocking to its muscular riffs and adrenaline.

Having formed in 2008, Trucker Diablo quickly garnered the adoration of some of rock n' roll's biggest names, including Joe Elliott (Def Leppard), Cormac Neeson (The Answer), Dee Snider (Twisted Sister), and Ricky Warwick (Thin Lizzy, The Almighty), who also makes a guest appearance on the Trucker track “Juggernaut”.

And now Ripple Music will be bringing the Big Truck right to your door!  The Devil Rhythm will be released in the U.S. on January 3rd, and in the UK and Europe on February 6th. Available in all fine record stores, eBay, Amazon, CD Baby and at the Ripple Music home.  Check out the debut video "Drink Beer, Destroy" and catch the early buzz of a band sure to have people talking in 2012.

Lock up your daughters and hide your wives, cause when the big Truck rolls into town, high -octane rock mayhem will be sure to follow!

www.ripple-music.com

The press raves:

"The Devil Rhythm is an exceptional effort!.  This album will undoubtedly satisfy both new-generation hard-rock fans and old-school rockers alike.  Joe Elliot of Def Leppard described Trucker Diablo as "Absolutely Awesome Stuff" and I couldn't agree more." -- Road Rage Metal Mag

"The Devil Rhythm is a fantastic first album from Trucker Diablo. Ten furious paced, no messing rock ‘n’ roll tracks that sound more like an established artists greatest hits and not a new bands debut album. Opening songs "Drink Beer Destroy", "Juggernaught" and "Big Truck" crash on your ear drums and continuously beat you into submission; overpowering you with every riff and selling themselves as the saviors of hard rock in Ireland. But it doesn’t end there!  It’s time for the public to stand up and take notice of what could potentially be one of the most successful rock bands to emerge from the North since Therapy." -- Goldenplec

"In 25 words or less: “This band needs to be heard, so listen, share, talk, tell everyone about Trucker Diablo…” -- May the Rock Be with You

The Devil Rhythm is now available at the Ripple Music Store and world-wide through Clearspot International in Europe and Code 7 Distribution in the UK on February 6th, 2012. 


 

Thin Lizzy - Live in London 2011

To me, it was inconceivable.

Thin Lizzy without Phil Lynott could be a lot of things, but Thin Lizzy wasn't one of em.  A cover band.  A tribute, perhaps.  but not Thin Lizzy.  Not the real thing.

Well, Phil can never be replaced.  He remains one of the most galvanizing, mercurial figures in rock history.  But the new version of Thin Lizzy playing his music are good.  Damn good.

Twenty five years have passed since Phil's untimely death.  The world has changed, but the amazing body of work that is Thin Lizzy still retains all of its vibrancy and influence. A new lineup has formed to take Lizzy's music to a whole new generation of music fans. Led by alumni Scott Gorham, Brian Downey and Darren Wharton (all of whom played in Thin Lizzy with Phil Lynott) the stellar lineup is completed by Def Leppard's Viv Campbell (guitar), Bassist Marco Mendoza (Whitesnake, Ted Nugent) and The Almighty's Ricky Warwick on vocals and guitar.

So where to start?  With Scott Gorham and Viv Campbell on guitar you knew the axe work was gonna be just fine.  Acutally, it's better than that.  It's as awesome as Lizzy ever were.  Gorham, of course, has the Lizzy touch, and Campbell brings that melodic harmony guitar work in seamlessly.  In truth, he would've fit in just fine with the band back in the day, his playing is that good.  Drums are solid with the original Downey pounding the skins, and Mendoza does an admirable job on bass.  Darren Wharton is another Lizzy alum playing just fine.  So without a doubt, musically, this version of Thin Lizzy sounds as good and tight as any version of the band.  Those trademark guitars just sing like angelic harmonies aimed right at the heart.

So really, the question is the front man.  Who could do it?  Who has the balls and the proper charisma to take the place of Phil on stage.  Talk about being set up to fail!  Well, let me tell you, the Lizzy boys couldn't have found a better man than Ricky Warwick.  Nothing in his resume of the Almighty or New Model Army prepared me for what I heard.

First off, Ricky doesn't try to ape Phil.  But his phrasing is about as dead-on perfect as you could ask for.  His throaty deep tenor sound enough like Phil that if you didn't know who it was, at times you could be fooled.  But it's done right.  It feels natural, not like Ricky is trying to be Phil or even sound like Phil.  It just sounds like the way the songs are supposed to be sung.  And this is critical.  Any firestorm directed at the band would be aimed right at Ricky, and damn if the man doesn't have the cajones to pull it off.  Hats off to you Ricky.   Really.

So with that said, what have we got here?  A killer set of fantastic Lizzy songs, fired up and ready to bring Phil's music and the Lizzy sound to a new generation.  "Jailbreak" is as mean and fierce as ever.  "Don't Believe a Word", one of my favorite lost Lizzy cuts, sounds razor sharp.  Killer and to the point.  "Massacre" another mind-blowing highlight is on fire, with that spectacular guitar work lighting up the night sky.  Ricky really shines here, pulling the spirit of Phil out of rock and roll heaven right back down to the stage. 

"The Boys are Back in Town," is pulsating and pounding, "Rosalie" is inspired, and "Bad Reputation" is street grit and pulsating sex.  In between we get the whole spectrum of Lizzy's catalog, 19 tracks in all. 

Phil is gone and missed.  No one can ever replace him.  But let me tell you, Live in London 2011 stands true as a fine Lizzy album, the music sounding fresh and new, ready to incite the fire in a new generation of fans.  If you're a Thin Lizzy fan, you won't be disappointed.

--Racer

Firebird - Double Diamond

 
 

Firebird’s last album Grand Union was one of my favorites of 2009 and I knew they would have a hard time topping it. Their new album Double Diamond is a very solid rock album but doesn’t quite match the intensity of the last one. Still, Firebird is one of the better rock bands out there and new material is always welcome and worthy of support.

Double Diamond starts off with “Soul Saviour,” one of the stronger songs on the album. Guitarist Bill Steer fires up a classic riff and the band comes in with a great cowbell driven groove. The first thing I noticed is that the production seems to be a bit more “modern” than in the past. Of course, in Firebird’s world “modern” means Paul Chapman era UFO and Chinatown by Thin Lizzy. As always the band is very tight and Bill’s guitar playing is outstanding. 

Mid-tempo songs like “Ruined” and “Bright Lights” are pretty commercial sounding. Too bad these won’t get any airplay because they could definitely appeal to a mainstream classic rock audience.  Faster ones like “”For Crying Out Loud” and “A Wing & A Prayer” will sound great in your car as you’re rocking down the highway. Overall, I think this album will sound better in a car than on a home stereo. The production is top notch and there’s plenty of variety so you won’t get bored on the road. It is, however, lacking barnburners like Grand Union’s “Blue Flame” or their storming version of Humble Pie’s “Four Day Creep.”

--Woody

www.myspace.com/firebirdblues

Classic Rock Attack - Featuring Robin Trower, Thin Lizzy, and Deep Purple

When you’re a classic rock fan you get used to new & supposedly improved versions of your old favorites getting re-issued every few years. Usually it’s just an attempt by the record label to generate some revenue on something they don’t have to spend a lot of money to create. That’s probably the case with this batch, too, but each of these releases gives the consumer some decent value for money.

Robin Trower - At The BBC 1973-1975


First up is Robin Trower At The BBC 1973-1975. Do I even need to tell you how great this is? This 2CD set is a mandatory purchase for Trower fans and anyone who loves outstanding guitar playing. This is Trower leading his excellent trio with James Dewar on bass & vocals during their peak time together. Reg Isidore plays drums on the 1973-74 sessions and is replaced by Bill Lordan for the 1975 recordings. There are two radio sessions from 73 and 74 and one from 75, recorded for John Peel and Bob Harris. They’re not playing live in the studio, but basically re-creating the classics from the essential albums Twice Removed From Yesterday, Bridge Of Sighs and For Earth Below. Most of the versions tend to be a little faster and rawer since they were done quickly in a day at a radio studio. Trower’s playing is inspired as always and the vocals of James Dewar are warm and inviting. The best part is a live BBC concert broadcast from 1975 that rivals the official Live album issued the following year. The 8 page booklet is a little light on photos but contains good liner notes from Malcolm Dome of Kerrang and Classic Rock fame. Might be a little pricy since it’s an import but completely worth it.


Buy here: At the BBC 1973-1975
Buy here mp3: At The BBC 1973-1975

 
Thin Lizzy - Jailbreak and Johnny the Fox: Reissues

I’m sure everyone reading this owns Thin Lizzy’s 1976 twin peaks of Jailbreak and Johnny The Fox on at least 1 format. If you own the original LP’s, the playing surface is probably destroyed and the covers have water rings from inconsiderate friends leaving their empties on them. The CD’s issued in the 90’s suffered from low levels and flimsy packaging, they’re now both double discs with improved sound and fancy full color booklets. The remasters of the original albums sound great and the volume level is up but not overly compressed. The bonus material on the 2nd discs contain some remixes done by Joe Elliot of Def Leppard with some new guitar parts added by Scott Gorham. I was a little worried about this, but they all sound good but I honestly don’t think I’ll listen to them all that often. The BBC sessions, however, I will, especially the extra fired up versions of “Warriors,” “Emerald” and “Johnny The Fox Meets Jimmy The Weed.” Works in progress like “Scott’s Tune” and “Blues Boy” are cool to hear but, again, probably not gonna play those a whole lot. There’s a very funky instrumental run through of “Johnny The Fox” that’s very cool, you can really hear that they’re having a good time getting the groove right on this song. The booklets come with great photos, liner notes and new interviews conducted by Neil Jeffries. The UK label Back On Black has reissued both of these albums and other jewels from the Thin Lizzy catalog on heavy weight vinyl. If you’re not sure whether to get the CD’s or LP’s, I’d say get ‘em both. You work hard, you deserve it.

Buy here: Jailbreak: Deluxe Edition
Buy here mp3: Jailbreak (Deluxe Edition)

Buy here: Johnny the Fox: Deluxe Edition
Buy here mp3: Johnny The Fox (Deluxe Edition)

 Deep Purple - Come Taste the Band: Reissue

Last up is a real classic rock connoisseur favorite, Deep Purple’s 1975 overlooked gem Come Taste The Band. As a huge Ritchie Blackmore fan, I avoided this album for many years but as soon as I let my guard down I realized just what a great album it is. Tommy Bolin’s playing is unfuckingbelievable and he’s one of the guys that helped bond me with the two clowns that run this website. I think I’m on a first name basis with just about everyone on the planet who loves this album. The reissue of Come Taste The Band follows the template laid down by the awesome Machine Head double disc. Disc one is the original album with excellent remastered sound and a bonus track of the 7” edit of “You Keep On Moving.” Disc two is a remixed version by Iron Maiden’s producer Kevin Shirley (he’s also responsible for the awesome audio on the double live Led Zep DVD). The remixes don’t sound drastically different but the guitars and the drums are a bit more upfront. The best part is that the songs are all longer. No fade outs or edits and there are some minor differences in the vocals and lyrics. Bonus tracks include a previously unreleased song called “Same In L.A.” that’s pretty cool but the best is the final track “Bolin/Paice Jam.” Who wouldn’t want to hear almost 6 minutes of Tommy Bolin blazing away accompanied by one of rock’s greatest drummers? Fucking excellent!

--Woody

Buy here:  Come Taste the Band






--Woody

Ripple Theater - Featuring Thin Lizzy and ZZ Top

Classic rock fans everywhere are rejoicing over the release of these 2 DVD’s. Who doesn’t want to see more Thin Lizzy and ZZ Top concerts? Especially when they’re from eras of the band that haven’t been documented to death already.

Thin Lizzy’s Are You Ready?: Live At Rockpalast DVD captures a concert filmed for the German music program on the 1981 tour. This is an interesting period of the band because it features Snowy White on guitar alongside Scott Gorham. Snowy was an unusual choice, his previous gig had been on Pink Floyd’s The Wall tour. His style is much less fiery than Gary Moore or Brian Robertson but his playing is very bluesy and fits in well with Scott. Darren Wharton on keyboards had also joined the band full time to help recreate some of the parts on the Chinatown album. Brian Downey is the drummer and, of course, Phil Lynott is front and center as bassist and vocalist.

The first thing everyone wants to know is how this compares with the Live & Dangerous DVD that catches the classic line up on the 1977 tour. Are You Ready is nowhere near as good as that performance but is still worth picking up. For one thing, the 1981 set list is very different. They play great versions of all the old classics like “Suicide,” “Emerald,” “Jailbreak” and “The Boys Are Back In Town” but it’s great to be able to watch them crank out “Chinatown,” “Black Rose” and "Hollywood (Down on Your Luck)" when they were still relatively new songs. The version of “Got To Give It Up” is very emotional since Phil and Scott were pretty bad junkies at this point. The first encore is a song called “Disaster” that was later retitled “Angel Of Death” with different lyrics for the Renegade album. Another interesting aspect of this show is the way they look. The satin pants and frilly shirts of the 1970’s have been replaced with leather, spikes and spandex. Phil, especially, looks like he borrowed his wardrobe from Judas Priest after the British Steel tour. Snowy White, as usual, dresses like a poor man’s Eric Clapton in sensible attire.

The sound quality of the DVD is a bit muffled at times and occasionally the video gets a bit wavy, but it looks better than the crappy bootleg VHS tapes that have been floating around for years. And at a list price of $11.98 you have no excuse not to pick it up.

 
ZZ Top also filmed a concert for Rockpalast in 1980 at a festival where they went on at 4 in the morning. You certainly can’t tell from the band’s kick ass performance and the crowd’s rowdy response. This show is the big selling point for the 2DVD set Double Down Live. ZZ Top was on tour supporting their 1979 album Degüello after taking a few years off from the road and the studio. This is the beginning of the giant beard era that has continued to this day.

Disc 1 is titled “Definitely Then” and the band blasts through 22 songs in about 95 minutes and the energy level never drops. ZZ Top’s pre-Eliminator albums are revered by musicians, producers and engineers for their incredible sound but live the band sounds even better. These guys like to play loud, but the sound is clear and they blast one song after another barely pausing for breath. They play most of the Degüello album including “I’m Bad, I’m Nationwide,” “Cheap Sunglasses” and the Frank Zappa influenced “Manic Mechanic.” The rest of the set contains all the usual barn stormers – “Beer Drinkers & Hell Raisers,” “Heard It On The X,” “Tush,” “Just Got Paid,” “La Grange,” etc. Killer show from start to finish with great sound and visuals.

Disc 2 is called “Almost Now” and catches the band 28 years later and still sounding good. The show is a little shorter, there’s less jumping around, the voices are a little deeper but the boogie remains strong. Last year the band released the Live in Texas DVD documenting the 2007 tour and there’s very little duplication between that show and this one. The only problem with the “Almost Now” disc is that it was filmed with only 1 camera and there’s a lot of herky jerky editing between different performances. Maybe the director wanted it to look like a youtube bootleg or something. The quality is good but all the jump cuts wear thin after a few songs. There are also some interviews and backstage footage in between ever song. Personally I’d rather watch the entire show uninterrupted.  Still, it’s hard to argue with great performances like “Blue Jean Blues” and a great cover of “Hey Joe.”

If you have any interest in either of these bands do yourself a favor and get these. Invite your buddies over, get sloppy drunk and rock out!




--Woody


Buy here: Thin Lizzy - Are You Ready?: Live At Rockpalast
Buy here: Double Down Live