Valient Thorr - Old Salt

I write this review as my hoe country of France goes through yet another long night after the terrorist attack in Nice. I almost feel like a traitor reviewing this particular band, because Valient Thorr are by definition a 'good times' band, but fuck it - no terrorist is going to tell me what to do. The point being - the bands 2013 effort, Our Own Masters has been in regular rotation for me for three years now, so suffice to say expectations were high for this particular release, Old Salt. Fortunately, the band delivers.

The thing about Valient Thorr is that they are best when they preserve their swagger, so Valient Himself's potent cry of "You are a dead man!" that defines the first track is exactly the kind of thing we need to make this album come off on the right foot. The burning sense of fun, and the fiery passion that Old Salt represents is counterbalanced by something new though. Where Our Own Masters had a lot of shorter more chorus oriented songs, Old Salt sees the guys expanding on what they've done in the past, growing their sonic palate and showing us that this is a band who refuse to be stymied.

So yeah - perhaps no band as perfectly blends hardcore, blues and rock and roll as well as Valient Thorr. The dudes have done their job better than we could have ever imagined and there is something endlessly addictive about Old Salt. Though I've only had the record for a few days I'm already four listens deep. It's rare that you have a band with this level of swagger and burning attitude. Old Salt is exciting and fun and even suggests that a band who have been as traditionally stripped back as Valient Thorr can add a few exciting frills.

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/valientthorr/?fref=ts

Eyehategod w/ Herder, Joe Buck Yourself! & Viva le Fox (@Glazart, 30/6/2015)

 

It had been a while since I treated my ear canals some beefy, stoner rock vibrations. After 3 great concerts in the big venues of Luxemburg, it was time to me to return home; home in Paris, home within the 4 walls of a cozy club venue, home to my great friends at Stoned Gatherings, who've been working their asses off to bring us a hefty set of shows for this summer, starting things off with this show starring none other than New Orleans Sludge Metal heavyweights Eyehategod. Parisian sludge enthusiasts were swift to answer to such a generous invitation as evidenced by the humbled thank you messages from our favorite booking agency to their followers for purchasing so many presale tickets.

I arrived all sweaty and short of breath from rushing straight from work to the venue; if there's one thing I hate, it's missing out on the start of a show. Thankfully, the first show of the evening had only just started. The first two opening sets of the evening took place on the venue's terrace, under the beautiful sunny weather, a splendid initiative that proved to be very fruitful judging from the crowd that had gathered for the show. First up was the dirty ol' sweaty duo Viva Le Fox featuring Joe Buck, here to shake things up with their dusty, bluesy set of rockabily tunes. Operating as a guitar and double bass duo, these folks certainly did a remarkable job in waking up a crowd still enjoying their happy hour to rusty yet danceable, swinging jams. With minimal equipment and a fairly straightforward formula, these guys were sweating like hell while singing their heart out; it doesn't get any more punk rock than these guys. A great show rewarded by a great reception by a contented crowd.

As the opening festivities carried on, the duo made way for the 2^nd  guests of the evening. The Hooten Hallers from Colombia, MO set up their gear and took up where the show had left off with a set of pure bluesy, hillbilly rock n' roll. With a setup barely surpassing Viva Le Fox's sense of minimalism; the trio made for an exceptional show with a great set with simple riffs set to a swinging backbeat rhythm on the drums and on the Saxophone. Vocalist and guitarist John Randall groaned and screamed out his bluesy verses with an unprecedented amount of character, throat-singing like a lung-ridden hillbilly having burnt out his throat from smoking too many Camel cigs in the hot southern sun. With a set balancing out rock n' roll twists and bluesy tales with riffs crashing down like magnificent strikes of sonic thunder, The Hooten Hallers just make you want to howl, twist and shout to the backbeat and go wild; a set of bluesy rock n'roll in its purest and finest form.

After this delightful couple of opening sets ended, the Hooten Hallers gracefully bowed to the audience (who were insistingly cheering for an encore) to direct them hastily inside the venue for the next show, an acoustic set hosted by Joe Buck, who played the bass earlier that night for Viva Le Fox. Though I doubt this is the first time someone has made this remark, I couldn't help but be baffled by the mans' striking resemblance to Eddie, the mascot for Iron Maiden. With an acoustic guitar under his arm and a suitcase kick drum at his foot, Joe Buck treated us to a set of dusty ol' country songs, devilish tales straight from the darkest pits of Kentucky. With the help of his raspy, deep voice, the man did not take long before engulfing the whole venue in a haunting, eerie atmosphere, captivating the entire audience by singing and shouting like a tell-tale of deathly lore. Sadly, the shows' bone-chilling, campfire ghost story atmosphere would have made for a truly enthralling experience had it not been constantly disrupted by Joe Bucks' exasperation with some technical difficulties involving his monitors. What seemed to be a reasonably overlookable issue to us audience caused Joe to lose his temper and grind his teeth in irritation. Likewise, Joe's exasperation ended up gaining the audience, who were visibly growing nervous and fed up by his frequent song interruptions and tantrums in between just about every song. Overall, this was a great set, though I couldn't help but feel as though it could've been significantly more enjoyable had the man refrained from making such a big deal out of his kick drum.

Next up on stage was a sludge/stoner metal band I had been eagerly expecting to see again ever since having first attended their show at Hellfest: Herder, the hardest band from the Netherlands.
Judging from the immediate explosive reception that the band got treated to as soon as they burst out their first few triple guitar riffs, I wasn't the only one that had been expecting this bands' set so impatiently. Havoc and mayhem struck the crowd as the sextet unleashed their massive, chunky riffs with full force. To phrase things concisely, this show was simply insane. Headbanging was not only inevitable for this set, it was mandatory and enforced by vocalist Ché, who made sure everyone in the front row was bopping their heads to his band and occasionally grabbing peoples' still heads to wave them up and down until they headbanged in compliance. From the slow, heavy headbanging stoner rock n'roll songs to the faster, hardcore moshing frenzies, the band kept the shows' level of energy at its utmost intensity with their roided, jaw-droopingly heavy songs and their remarkable stage presence and energy. Ché couldn't help but smile from the audiences' warm reception and was visibly determined to share and spread his good vibes with his fans, exclaiming "I hope you guys brought your dancing shoes with you!" while dancing around like a jolly leprechaun. As ill circumstances would have it, the bands' set was unfortunately cut short due to volume issues, to the disappointment of a pumped up crowd that had obviously not had enough time to put their dancing shoes to good use. Nevertheless, this unfortunate abrupt ending to the set did little to belittle the magnificence of these' fine gents' performance. An excellent show that would've left us with the exact same craving for more had lasted a full hour and a half.

After Herders' set came a long intermission. News had broken out that Eyehategod had been blocked at the French border earlier today, leading to certain uncertainties regarding the closing set of the evening. After a few news briefings by the staff at Stoned Gatherings, the men of the hour finally arrived at 11pm, unloaded and set up their gear in record timing and jumped right into business without a second to lose. The sludge-thirsty crowd that had been respectfully yet noneless impatiently waited an hour for the show snapped and thus the peaceful Glazart instantly turned into a chaotic warzone, raging to the thunderous sounds of New Orleans' most devastating Sludge Metal act, fronted by Mike Williams' tortured screams. With a heavily armed set of songs, the band opened fire and unleashed every bit of the undying rage that have earned them their household name in metal. From slow sludgy neck breakers to their fast-paced, punk-driven tracks, Eyehategod did not take long to tear the venue down with their napalm-fused sound.  


Being that I imperatively needed to get home before the metro stopped running, I unfortunately had no choice but to leave about halfway through the bands' set. Despite this regrettable situation that was being anyone’s' control, I really enjoyed the set and I rode back home with a great smile of satisfaction on my face. Stoned Gatherings shows have yet to let me down, and despite a few unfortunate technical issues, every artist gave it their best and each of them absolutely killed it, making for yet another great night to remember.

Robin
 
PS: I'd like to yet again send my thanks to Stoned Gatherings for making this review possible. Be sure to visit their website to find out about their upcoming shows.

Stoned Gatherings

Official Website
http://stoned-gatherings.com/
Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/stonedgatherings.shows?fref=ts

The Hooten Hallers
Official Website
http://www.thehootenhallers.com/
Official Bandcamp
https://thehootenhallers.bandcamp.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/thehootenhallers  

Joe Buck Yourself !
Official Bandcartel
http://joebuckyourself.bigcartel.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Joe-Buck-Yourself-/323946857004

Herder

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/herderisharder
Official Bandcamp
https://herder.bandcamp.com/

Eyehategod
Official Website
http://eyehategod.ee/

Official Bandcamp
https://eyehategod.bandcamp.com/

Facebook
https://www.facebook.com/OfficialEyeHateGod

Tomas Doncker Band-Moanin' At Midnight: The Howlin' Wolf Project

Longtime readers will know I love me the blues. Muddy Waters, Willie Dixon, and perhaps above all, the legendary Howlin' Wolf. Now, the Tomas Doncker Band has been around for a little while, Doncker himself is a career musician who has been busting genres wide open since the 1980's. So when a figure as talented and gifted as Doncker comes out with a tribute to one of the greatest blues artists of all time, you know you should stand up and take notice. With Moanin' At Midnight: The Howlin' Wolf Project the Tomas Doncker band pays tribute to a true legend.

Part of what makes this record so special to me is the touches of modern blues that Doncker manages to mix into the sound. His takes on classics like Back Door Man and Killing Floor bring in touches of rock elements, a few even toss in a Led Zeppelin vibe. (I know Zeppelin stole a lot from Wolf, but the point stands) Tomas Doncker has gone above and beyond, he knows that of course you can't hold a candle up to Howlin' Wolf, but by god can he put an exciting new twist on it. That's what makes Moanin' At Midnight worth a listen or ten. Doncker gives his unique take on a legends work and it gives the entire catalogue new life and leaves blues nerds like me begging for more.

The ten tributes found on this record are going to capture your heart and make you want to go back and check out not just all of Wolf's catalogue, but also Donckers. As the band roars through an exciting take of I Ain't Superstitious you start to realize that these guys are on to something big with Moanin' At Midnight. Many have tried to put out tributes to the blues god that is Howlin' Wolf, but I think that no complete tribute album is really better than this one. Tomas Doncker gives his all into these tributes and proves once again that legends never die!

Find The Tomas Doncker Band on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/TomasDonckerMusic

Dirty Deep-Shotgun Wedding

Another day, another top notch rock and roll record. This time we have an earthy one man French blues project. Filled with down home blues and a gritty dedication to the all powerful might of the blues, Shotgun Wedding is one of the most promising blues releases I've heard in a good long while. Beautifully produced and chock full of great ideas this is the kind of album that you spin again and again, just because it's that good. Simple and to the point, Dirty Deep gets at the spirit of rock and roll and makes us face the terrors of a forgotten world.

Right off the bat, I need to say, the old school blues worship seems to be pretty apparent throughout, and by god is it awesome. The only artist I can honestly compare Dirty Deep to is Seasick Steve, they have the same magic in their music, born of being dedicated old school bluesmen. The harmonica playing is another key highlight to this record, really taking me back and giving the entire album a true blues vibe, making things a lot more interesting than they might come across as otherwise. The vocals are simply the icing on the cake, with a tight and homely vibe to them that hearkens back to old blues masters, giving the entire thing its unique and groovy blues vibe.

In closing, Dirty Deep may very well be the best blues act of 2014. Shotgun Wedding is unique and interesting, the product of thousands of hours of hard work and an undying dedication to the devils music. I'm excited to hear how Dirty Deep evolves as this record is already simply incredible. As for now, let your body groove and mind shake as your entire world is shaped by the stripped down and purely beautiful soundscapes of Dirty Deep. This is French blues, and it will take you down to the crossroads for a lesson in the most true music.

Find Dirty Deep on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/dirtydeep.official

Gaelle Buswel-Yesterday's Shadow

I first ran into Gaelle Buswel a few weeks ago opening for The Aristocrats, I was stunned by the sheer beauty and magic of her music. Here is a girl who crafts songs that are often rather minimalist in instrumentation, yet vast in soundscape, and incredibly beautiful. Her debut record Yesterday's Shadow evidences the power and glory of her work. This is blues folk at its finest, memorable and heart rending sounds that are all tinged with a supreme and tear jerking sadness. Yes, tear jerking, Yesterday's Shadow is remarkable because in a world were literally hundreds of albums come out every day, this one stands tall and makes the listener feel. 

See, Gaelle has a simply incredible voice, rife with Bonnie Raitt tinged emotion, evidence of someone who has been through the hard times and come out stronger because of it. On first glance, an album with song titles like 'Love' and 'Fever' might seem bland, yet once you get into it you are forced to acknowledge the incredible beauty of the music. More than that, the lyrics are magical, with an earthy and very human understand of the common man's everyday existence. Yet, it is not only Gaelle's wonderfully accented voice that gives the record glory. The guitar playing is magnificent, blues tinged jazz that often comes in with little licks that add incredible flavor to the songs. Keyboards come in occasionally too, adding flavor to tracks like  the tasty duet None of us Are Free. All of this culminates in the ultimate track, a cover of the Beatles classic Help, and frankly, it is far superior to the original.

Now, dear reader, you might be thinking 'Isn't Matt supposed to be a metal dude? And what is this crap about a band playing Beatles songs better than the Beatles?' Maybe I am just some confused punk who doesn't know what he's talking about. But I think when you get into the heart of it, Yesterday's Shadow is significant because of its sheer humanity. There are very few records coming out these days that reflect the human condition as well as this one does. Gaelle Buswel understands the spirit of mankind and channels it in her music. How else can I conclude than to say, listen to this record and try to hold back the tears.

Find Gaelle on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/GaelleBuswel.OfficialFanPage

Levi Clay's Easy Blues Fusion Guitar

I'll admit, it's been a while since I seriously watched an instructional DVD. I have dark and nebulous melodies as a beginner guitarist, trying to figured out how to play, and becoming frustrated by, 'Easy guitar' DVD's. Four years and thousands of practice hours later, I have to say I think Levi Clay's new DVD Easy Blues Fusion Guitar has won me back to the world of guitar DVD's. From the stellar company that is Lick Library (Producers of iGuitar magazine and countless instructional videos) Clay is coming at you with a DVD that could very well revolutionize your blues playing.

One of the things that makes this DVD especially appealing for me is the easy going way in which Clay presents the material. It is clear that he is an experienced guitar teacher. As he goes through each example he provides a lot of good ideas on how to handle the material and suggests different fingerings. I especially like how every lick is played at at least two different speeds, sometimes more depending on the difficulty of the phrase in question. The overall presentation of each lick is also rather uniform, making it easy to watch and master just one lick.

A key aspect of this whole video is the little gems of theoretical knowledge that will definitely help a beginner blues guitarist. In the introduction of the video Clay does an especially good job of explaining how to mix the Mixolydian mode, arpeggio, and minor pentatonic scale to maximum effect. Furthermore, he does a great job of explaining how guide tones work and how to target them. In fact, there is an especially large focus on reaching the third in licks, and for good reason. This kind of well explained and wonderfully placed theoretical tidbit helps to make this DVD even more useful than it already is.

So how do you best use Easy Blues Fusion Guitar anyway? Well, frankly there are months worth of ideas to practice in here. Not only are some of the licks very tricky, but many present ideas that could easily be fused into new licks. While the main focus is on jazz/blues fusion, blues is also fused here with country and occasionally rock. This gives you ideas that are applicable in a variety of genres, making for even more work. A detailed study of this DVD would entail not just multiple viewings of each lick, but a careful annotation of the (very well presented) tab book. I get the sense, it would be very, very rewarding.

If you want a DVD that will give you all sorts of new ideas for you blues playing and help you bring your understanding of theory to a new level, this may very well be perfect for you. Designed with practicality in mind, there is not a wasted minute. Clay knows how to teach and has created something that is easy to understand and very practical. From the excellent and clear tab booklet found on the disc to the thorough and easy to understand explanations I have no real complaints. If you want to revolutionize, or merely advance your approach to blues music, then get this DVD as soon as you can!

Buy it here: https://www.licklibrary.com/store/levi-clay/54945/easy-blues-fusion-guitar-dvd

Katie Sings the Blues

It's getting on midnight on a Friday here in Paris and its time to play them blues. So I bring you Katie Bradley of Katie Sings the Blues, a woman with a strong voice and a wonderful sense of how to play that blues harp. Passionate and powerful Katie Bradley is a powerful frontwoman who gives her backing band a wonderful centerpiece. The kind of group who are more than ready to tour internationally (Why, they've even started!) It's a surprise that Katie Sings the Blues doesn't have more worldwide recognition. These guys know how to make blues music of the highest degree and their passionate approach is more than enough to capture the heart of any blues fan. These guys know how to play and their rock and roll inflected tracks (Let the Good Times Roll anyone) and searing guitar solos get my foot tapping and head bobbing right away. I think it is a joy to listen when Katie sings the blues and I hope you get the chance to agree with me. So come on down and turn this up, it's time to close out your evening with some good old blues magic!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Katie-sings-the-Blues/290146934375680

Hamish Anderson

Hamish Anderson is a rock musician who brings in a variety of influences to a sound that is both powerful and dynamic. With lots of interesting musical shifts and twists and turns that showcase the magic of the band Hamish Anderson represents some of the coolest folksy blues rock that I have heard in a good long while. What's more impressive is that he got the chance to record with the legendary Rami Jaffee (Foo Fighters, ex-Wallflowers). In other words, this guy is darn good and some pretty significant people are starting to notice. Suffice to say, the future seems bright for this young blues rock purveyor and I think that with a little luck he could become seriously big. A man who understands the spirit of musicians like Jeff Buckley and Bob Dylan (something that is very, very hard to find these days) there is a certain magic to Hamish Anderson's sound that gives me hope. Hope in the knowledge that one day, this rising Australian blues god will get the recognition that he rightly deserves.

Find out more on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/hamishandersonmusic

Price to Pay-Robbie Hill and The Blue 62's

Longtime readers know that I love me some blues, especially in the grand old chunk rock and roll style that made some of those early Led Zeppelin tracks so great. The thing about this record from Robbie Hill and the Blue 62’s is that this record is filled with passion and explosive bluesy music. Price to Pay isn’t just a blues record, on many levels its an embodiment of blues in 2013. Sure a lot of it seems to be rooted in the past but some of the more dramatic, jazzy fills show that there is a little more than originally meets the eye on Price to Pay.

What really sets this record apart for me is the solos. Sure there are a variety of blues techniques employed (to perfection I must say) and they make the songs unique, but it’s the solos that make it magical. The sheer excellence in musicianship broadcasted by these songs proves that Robbie Hill and the Blue 62’s are more than just a blues bar band. Any old bluesman can enjoy this record with all of its classic blues glory. At the same time, a newer fan might still find these songs enjoyable, the jazz fills provide flash and the song s are overall fairly relatable. Lyrically this record is classic blues, adding to the general BB King aura that can dominate a lot of the songs.

To finish, Price to Pay is already one of my favorite blues records of 2013. These guy s know how to make good blues and revel in every second of it. The end result is that Price to Pay comes across as passionate and triumphant, a record that proves that good old blues music will never die, no matter what the generations of detractors might say. A band that perfectly fuses old and new with a little bit of rock and roll for good measure the future seems bright for Robbie Hill and the Blue 62’s. I for one cannot wait for a new record from these blues magicians!

Find them on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/Robbiehilltheblue62s?fref=ts

Item 9 & The Mad Hatters-Live from Dead Squirrel Studios

So now we have some old Two Guys Metal Reviews favorites with Item 9 & The Mad Hatters and their brand new record Live from Dead Squirrel Studios (How about that cover art?) A band whose music is defined by the credo 'We're not famous but we know how to party' it's not hard to hear those elements in the funky blues rock sound of this group, as characterized by songs like The Fall of Gondolin. Something all you modern rock and rollers will want to hear Item 9 is gradually getting bigger and suffice to say Live From Dead Squirrel Studios shows they definitely deserve it.

Here's what makes the record special, the sheer polish as it is fused with the raw rock and roll energy that characterizes many of these songs. Somehow these guys strike a balance and find the right chord in my heart, showing me that their CAN indeed be some great rock and roll in 2013. With some cool old school elements mixed in with some more contemporary sounds reminiscent of groups like the Red Hot Chili Peppers this band is easy to fall in love with. These three songs give a great example of what Item 9 & The Mad Hatters are all about, and if you're any kind of rock fan then you'll soon be scouring their social networks for more of their custom 'modern vintage rock' goodness!

To wrap it all up, while this may only represent 12 minutes of music it also showcases a TON of heart and passion from a band who are not afraid to stand up and tell it like it is. I think the future will be bright for these Iowa natives, if only because they seem to have such a good grasp on what they want to do. Fusing the best bits of old and new their is a bit of something for everyone here, and the music is definitely not alienating. Fresh, loose, and fun, Live From Dead Squirrel Studios showcases Item 9 & The Madhatters at their finest, let's hope for more of the same!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/item9andthemadhatters

Laura Mays Blue Rays

It is rare that I get to review a true blues band on this blog, which is odd because I LOVE the blues. Thankfully Laura Mays and her Blue Rays have got me covered with their passionate club inspired blues that gets to the heart of the genre with catchy chord progressions and smooth solos. Best of all, this girl can really sing, her voice has that gloriously throaty down n' dirty blues style that gives the genre so much credibility. The guitar playing is simply stellar and their are lots of tasty little jazz bits added in for flavor. Meanwhile the harmonica is wailing and righteous, it adds a glorious level of class to the songs and helps to keep things engaging and fun. In short, Laura Mays Blue Rays is one of the great blues bands you see in those classy clubs I rarely stray into. They know their job and do it wonderfully, better than most even. Hearing how they develop should be an exciting prospect, the musicians are excellent and the performance stellar, with a combination like that, anything could happen!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/pages/Laura-Mays-Blue-Rays/167873023255398?id=167873023255398&sk=app_2405167945

Albatross

Albatross is a nifty bluesy hard rock band who in many ways remind me of bands like Led Zeppelin in the way they are not afraid to mix light and dark. Their modern hard rock elements add in a taste of Altar Bridge to their heavier parts and the sheer groove is at best reminiscent of Black Sabbath. Their is a certain vibe here that is just magic, the bluesy acoustic playing that gives the music a great old school classic rock feel and the roaring pentatonic solos. While the band could use another member to fill out the sound (Some parts do sound a bit 'empty') Albatross's music is still exciting and dynamic showcasing a band who know what they want to do and more importantly how to do it. I especially like the drum lines, the cowbell playing on Smoke and Mirrors really captured my heart. The slide guitar parts add a certain earthy quality to the music that few other bands can emulate and with a more full sound the group might be able to get down and gritty. In short, one of the most exciting bands to come out of Ontario in a long while (See, there CAN be Canadians who rock!) the future seems bright for Albatross!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/albatrosscochrane/app_2405167945 

Horseback-A Plague of Knowing

If you're anything like me then you've been a long time Horseback fan. Something about this guys strange music, which fails to ascribe to any real 'school' of metal is just magical, I mean, how can you characterize a group who fuse drone with blues and everything between? And yet, I am by no means a collector, so when I heard about A Plague of Knowing a new release from Horseback featuring live recordings are rarities I was ecstatic, 23 new tracks from one of the most innovative artists on the scene? Yes please!

Part of what I love so much about this record is how it is a veritable tour de force of the bands strengths. It shows off all of the great things about Horseback from pretty much every year of its existence (as far as I can tell at least). Even people who are new to the band should be able to enjoy a lot of the music on here, assuming of course they can handle the sheer esoteric madness that embodies so many of these songs.­ Listening to this record is a sort of general reminder of the sheer virtuosity of Jenks Miller and the glorious music that he can create. And come on, 23 tracks? Thats a LOT of very good music!

In conclusion, this record saves fans like me time and money trying to fulfill our fix for Horseback. While there aren't really any 'new' tracks there are almost certainly songs you haven't heard before, and if you have at least A Plague of Knowing unites them all in the same place. For new fans, be assured, Horseback is one of the most unique and simply impressive bands out there today, this record won't leave you disappointed but instead begging for more. Partially done to celebrate five years of the projects existence I can only say, lets raise the horns to fifty more!

Find out more on Facebook!

https://www.facebook.com/Horseback

Special Bruise

Special Bruise is a nifty pop band with a bluesy influence that somehow reminds me of the White Stripes. The thing about this group is that their music is rather simple yet it has a beautiful earthy power behind it that is hard to ignore. The thing is that these guys infuse their music with all of the might of the blues yet with all of accessibility of pop music. The end result is unique and glorious, finely crafted, yet simple soundscapes that encapsulate the listener and hold them in thrall for the four song duration of their debut release the Special Bruise EP. I love the way the male and female vocals intertwine to give the music a new layer of magic, it just feels so natural, so right that you can not put it down. So if you're looking for a band with a gentle bluesy sound that is simply magnificent and tear jerking then this is a band your going to want to check out, Special Bruise know what they want to do and how to do it and if they continue releasing stellar music in this vein they could go far!

Find them on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/SpecialBruise/app_204974879526524

Broken Banjo

Broken Banjo is a fun blues rock band with lots of explosive solos for an end product that is as old school as it is tasty. The guitar dominates their music and their are legions of great solos filled with a true rock and roll flavor. They are often reminiscent of the greatest works of Jimmy Page or even Hendrix himself. They carry the same bluesy might. Meanwhile the vocals have a simple down to earth quality to them that keeps the band grounded in reality. They keep the songs relatable and poignant. The bluesy roar on songs like One Trick Pony show the spirit that really dominates this record. While most of the songs are very much more in the rock vein the blues influence does not hide itself, every song features tons of bluesy licks and rhythmic tricks. In conclusion, for fans of Zeppelin and Cream this is a great rock band who understand what the old gods were trying to do and put their own spin on it!

Listen in on Facebook!
https://www.facebook.com/Broken.Banjo/app_178091127385

Venus Blue

Venus Blue is a noisy stoners' rock and roll explosion. This music is wild and furious taking influences from noise punk and stoner rock. Bluesy riffs and doom metal. This is a band for people who love both Muddy Waters and Sleep. The "unapologetic" rock and roll attitude of this band should melt your face off and then give you time to put it back together again in between sludgy riffs. I love how this band is really just a logical progression on the music of Blue Cheer. The songs are heavy and feature crushing riffs that you have to move your body to. Venus Blue is one of the greatest bands that I have reviewed this year, simply because they remember what rock and roll is and know how to do it in the grand old style. So go check out Venus Blue and let their "Electric Space Blues" melt your face!
https://www.facebook.com/CultofVenus/app_204974879526524

Mister John, Kiss My Frogs and Ocean at Divan Du Monde!

So, I went to a show tonight and have quite the review planned for you. The venue was the famous Divan du Monde in Paris, the bands, blues masters Mister John, rock n soul with Kiss my Frogs, and French metal legends Ocean. Also within, me introducing a little kid to headbanging. All in all I had a killer night and got to see some great bands! It all started off with the quality of the venue.

The venue Divan du Monde is rather small, but still big enough as to not be cramped. At the show there was a crowd of 250, nowhere near the maximum capacity of 450. The venue is located in the famous music district of Pigalle, right next to a bunch of guitar stores and music shops. While it can get a bit sketchy at night, I have yet to have an issue in this area of the city. The mixing was brilliant and allowed every band to truly shine. Overall, the venue is excellent and a great place to see a show at.

The first band to come up was Mister John, a crunchy blues act with some brilliant solos. Their sound is ridiculously good, and the stage show rather well done. Before the show started a little kid was very excited to tell me that his uncle would be playing the keyboards during the show, the fact that he was not intimidated by my Slayer shirt made me immediately take a liking to him. I kept an eye on him as the blues started up.

The songs where powerful and satisfying. With a blues rock feel very much in the vein of Robert Plant's live show Mister John is impossible to hate. They have that blues magic in their playing and you can't deny it. The guitar is brilliant, with tasty licks galore, James Dempsey is particularly good. The bass work is pretty solid and the lines added a lot of flavor to the songs. The drums where slow and delicious, with simple lines that really captured the Mississippi feel. Finally we have the vocals which had a very dirty Tom Waites magic to them. My favorite parts where when the band broke down to play long instrumental passages. Together, the musicians of Mister John are excellent, and they are helped by their stage show.

The stage show of Mister John is rather simple, yet well executed. The lighting forms the basis of it all. With an emphasis on cooler colors the moody instrumental passages are nicely complimented, mean while the faster flashier chord progressions got brighter and more active lighting. My big criticism of the Mister John live show is the lack of movement by the performers. While I understand that this is a rather low powered type of music, some audience interaction would be nice. Overall though, Mister John proved themselves to be a rather effective live band who truly get what it is to be bluesmen.

The next band up was called Kiss My Frogs, a rock n' soul act who had a rather bizarre image. Their music was rather good, and reminded me a lot of old fashioned Chicago blues standards. The guitar work was usually pretty light but still crunchy. The standup bass added a lot of flavor to the bands overall sound. The keyboards added a shimmery layer to the music reminiscent of Led Zep classics like No Quarter. I found the drums to be a tad dull though with a lack of creative fills and not a lot of energy. The vocals were wonderful, the singer could really blast it out. She has a truly powerful voice. Overall Kiss my Frogs is a decent, but not great live band.

The stage show of Kiss My Frogs was rather bizarre. With 4 men dressed like hipsters and a rather sexualized singer the show had a rather parisian feel to it. Yet the dancing of the musicians (Especially the singer) was bizarre and failed to really connect with the audience. The only time that I felt a true connection with the band was during the guitarists extended solo which was very powerful and tasty. Overall though, the show lacked magic, and even a little creepy at times when I considered the lyrics versus the age of the musicians. Still, I had a decent time during this band's 45 minute set.

Then we have Ocean, this band truly rocked. They even made the little kid I was standing next to go up in a headbanging rage! The set was extremely tight and I got to enjoy it from front and center. (See, showing up an hour early has its benefits!) The guitar work was tight and very Maidenesque. I particularly liked how the band was not afraid to let the guitarist go down into blues solos. The bassist was also rather good, and he seemed to be really feeling every note he played that night. The drums where high powered and flashy featuring a ton of NWOBHM fills that never failed to satisfy. Finally we have the vocals, Stef Reb can screech like Halford and go down and low like Dickinson, in short, he is the perfect NWOBHM vocalist, and it was a pleasure to see him sing.

The stage show was great with lots of flashy lights the hall came alive. The vocalist ran up and down high fiving everyone in the front row and leading the headbanging. Reb truly knows how to get a show going. Yet as I said before, the band was not afraid to step back and let the blues flow. This allowed for a really interesting dichotomy in the sound and added a bit of a Led Zeppelin vibe to the music. In conclusion Ocean is a sick live act who you MUST go see!

To finish, it was a great evening with lots of great music. All of the bands are worth checking out but the show was truly dominated by Mister John and Ocean.

Axis of all Things, Chris Brooks

So today I'm reviewing Chris Brooks, a virtuoso guitarist from Australia. Known for previous albums like Master Plan he has slowly built up his name in the virtuoso guitar community. His new album The Axis of all Things is one of the greatest fusion releases of the year. He has a fusion style reminiscent of guys like Holdsworth and Govan. His combination of styles leads to a great sound that is incredibly fun to listen to. In addition to his killer guitar work, his back up band shows some nice bass and drum chops. Yet the heart and soul of this album is truly found within the guitar work. The fusion of classical music, jazz, rock, and even a little metal allows for a unique sound and leads to a great album!

The guitar work on this album is phenomenal. Listening to this record can be enjoyable for fans of many different types of music. The prelude features some really cool classical stylings with a nice toccata-like bit. Then there are a lot of rock stylings, in particular the song Transfiguration features a heavy blues-rock type riff. The blues has a large role in this music and some of the long bends are reminiscent of BB King. In some songs like Open Doors, we even have a Yngwie type shred vibe to the music. Then we have the jazz, oh the jazz. With jazz elements coming into play in all songs it is one of the more important elements. Yet Brooks does an excellent job of giving his jazz a sense of rock so that the solos don't become dull and wanky, but instead stay lively and fun. Not the Day provides an excellent example of a jazzy song that stays lively with a rock feel. The rhythm playing is also excellent, best described as hard rock with crazy changes Brooks does not fail to impress. I particularly like the rhythm bit on Wisdom Road which makes the song feel beautiful and powerful. In brief, the guitar playing on this record will blow your mind to bits.

The back-up band is quite excellent and adapts well to all the playing styles on the album. The bassist, Nate Apparati manages to be powerful and emotional. He changes nicely to the style of music presented. On the more rock based songs he is aggressive and fiery and on the more laid back tracks he layers in a driving force to the music. The drum work is equally good with skillful playing in songs like Feeding the Myth drummer Gordon Rytmeister proves that he is a true master. The other drummer, Peter Mcdonaugh, is also excellent, he can handle the rock playing just as well as the jazz and fits in very well with some of the more acoustic pieces. In other words, the back up band for Chris Brooks is most excellent and nearly as good as the man himself.

In conclusion, Axis of All Things is one of the greatest things you will hear all year. The guitar work is brilliant, and nearly as good as that of Govan himself. Brooks has a power to create moving songs that show off an excellent level of theoretical knowledge. His back up band is also excellent and really helps to make the album shine. So go check this album out if you're a fan of godly musicians and awesome music!

The Grasshoppers

The Grasshoppers are a fun alt rock band from India featuring a nice sound reminiscent of some of the cheerier White Stripes classics. They have a really cool logo too, so thats always nice. The guitar work is very much in the style of Jack White the riffs are simple and capture a lot of blues and punk energy. They are indeed most excellent and enjoyable. The bass work is pretty straightforward with the bassist playing the root notes of the guitarists chords. This makes the sound quite a bit bigger and the bass interludes give them a unique feel. The drumming matches the music well, there are a few of nice little fills but the majority of the time the drummer just matches the rhythm. Finally we have the vocals which are scratchy and moaning at the same time. Yet somehow they are quite good and a joy to listen too. They do a good job of capturng the back to the basics garage rock sound of bands like the Black Keys. In conclusion the Grasshoppers are a nice blues-punk band that sounds a lot like the Stripes and the Keys in the basics yet in practice they prove themselves to be quite unique.

Check em out https://www.facebook.com/pages/The-Grasshoppers/130813956996958?sk=wall

Good Timing

Good Timingis a pretty heavy blues rock band with some really powerful riffs and a fun sound. Let's start with the guitar. Theriffs on this record are amazing and the eponymous track features a killer. The pentatonic fills and solos lead to some really great 70s style rock. Their are nice chord based figures too like in Baby Don't leave Me featuring acoustic and distorted riffs. The bass is typically pretty simple but its walking lines help to cement this band in its blues based feel and assure that the band never srays to far from its roots. The drums  have a great brumbeat air to them and are really fun. They give you music you can dance to with their catchy fills and fun rhythm parts. Finaly we have the vocals, at first I felt them to be below the quality of the music as they have a bit of a punk-pop feel. but after a while I started to like them and now I can honestly say that I am truly fond of the vocals of Good Timing. Overall Good Timing is a really nice band with a fun blues-rock sound and powerful fills that lead to old fashioned rock and roll.

Overall 9.5/10