In an effort to create more content I thought that I would try doing some video as well. Check out the video to see the post; in a nut shell here are my top 11 hard rock / metal frontmen.
Bryan Crouch: Hail the Villain / Six Side Die
Hail the Villian - Runaway - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xHG3YOB8nxY
Myles Kennedy: Slash / Alter Bridge
Alter Bridge - Addicted to Pain - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sAYrAu-jnMY
Chester Bennington: Linkin Park
Linkin Park - Faint - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LYU-8IFcDPw
Tommy Vext: Bad Wolves
Bad Wolves - Remember when - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tQP2Iow-4ZA
Howard Jones: Light the Torch
Light the Torch - Safety of Disbelief - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YHHvEksC7oc
Jesse Leach: Killswitch Engage
Killswitch Engage - In Due time - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HANCzu70us4
LaJon Witherspoon: Sevendust
Sevendust - Angels Son - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jpP0b_CQQi4
Chris Robertson: Black Stone Cherry
Black Stone Cherry - Blame it on the boom boom - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LCESFRl97wI
Josh Todd: Buckcherry
Buckcherry - Say Fuck it - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0D28i_Y40eo
Corey Glover: Living Colour
Living Colour - Glamour Boys - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e7FX6sAL0Zw
Johnny Hawkins: Nothing More
Nothing More - Mr MTV - https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IXxHwOkYEYs
Well this is weird.. hey.. it's been awhile... How ya been?
Loads has happened with me... as I am sure with you. The following that I had with this blog many years ago I am hoping to revive and grow. Maybe with more writing .. maybe with some videos. Probably with both.
So why no writing? Well I could just say that life gets in the way.. but that wouldn't be totally true. Music took a back seat for awhile with me; it never really fully left; but the days of living in NYC and going to 4 hard rock concerts a month is no longer feasible. Oh yeah did I mention that I live in California now? I've got a kid too.. a freaking kid!!! :)
But inspiration for a new write is really why I have stayed away. Granted there has been some epic musical events that have happened since I wrote last. Shit.. I mean KISS got into the R&RHOF.. lol.. and original members showed for it.
So let's talk about inspiration and run with that.. what is spawning this in me? Well it has been surfacing a ton recently in just regular conversation.. times when I find myself talking over everyone's head about bands.. their history.. their story.. and then I stop and catch the glances or hear the silences of "what is he talking about?". To be frank there is one band / artist that has really gotten me out of hiding again; hence the inspiration. AKA BRAVERY.
In 2017 one of my favorite bands lead singer was suffering pretty bad from some demons; Ivan Moody of Five Finger Death Punch was in a pretty bad head space. He needed some time to heal. Enter Tommy Vext. Tommy filled the roll well; never in the studio with 5FDP only to cover existing tour dates. There were rumors that he would be a permanent replacement. That never happened. Instead Tommy had something else under his sleeve. Bad Wolves was already in creation mode in 2016; and even though it would not be until 2018 that the band dropped their first album it was completely evident that this is where Vext's heart lied. Tommy's story is what got me back here.
But before that let's talk about the 2018 debut album called Disobey by Bad Wolves. It's melodic. It is personal. It hits hard. Bad Wolves received acclaimed air play on SirusXM Octane first with their cover of ZOMBIE, a Cranberries classic. Now, it is a great cover; don't get me wrong; but what makes this a special song across all the board is that Dolores O'Riordan herself was to be on the track; but she passed the day before the studio appointment in a drowning accident.But this is certainly the song that got the debut album by Bad Wolves into the spotlight. But that's not what this blog is about.. remember.. its about
inspiration.. what I also mentioned to above as bravery. This is about
Tommy Vext and his bravery and how it got me woke.. woken? woke up?
lol..
Tommy Vext. Voice is impeccable. That's all I can say about that; what in the hell else do you need to know? Just listen. It's soulful; honest; and has a great range. His story.. well that is just amazing. 2010; his twin brother killed him in a drug rage (he obviously lived) ; 6 years ago he was suicidal; (was on a railroad tack waiting to die); 2017 is on the stage with 5FDP... wait that's a pretty massive jump and change from that last fact. I mean it is actually life changing!
So what's the point of all this for you and for me? The blog I mean; why bring it back. What does it have to to do with Tommy Vext? Tommy's story got me thinking. That it is never too late (sorry Adam Gontier not trying to rip you off), to live. To change. To risk .
So here I am 44 yo; a father; and an advid hard rock and metal fan choosing to write again.
Face the comedy.. it't better than hiding from the tragedy.
In mid 2011 I went to an autograph signing with Zakk Wylde where I was told that I didn't look like I a fan because of my appearance; I was headed to work suited up and clean shaven. Although I thought nothing of it at the time, genre's of music typically have a scene and a style. Metal and hard rock's scene is clearly not suit and tie; nonetheless it got me thinking on perceptions.
Should I be dressing a certain way if I listen this type of music? Should I not have a good job? Should my hair be long? Possibly instead of sitting at a desk for 10 hours and calling it a job should be replaced with similar hours lingering under a car engine? Isn't this what we expect metal heads to do?
I actually started this post over a year and a half ago; it's funny how something that you once felt gets pushed to the side until it is reminded so innocently that it sparks up the ever-long conversation hiding in your brain.
Rewind two months ago; Trapt concert in St Pete, Fla; my lovely wife to be is in tow. We enter the small, rather poorly lit theater with beer stuck floors and head to our standing place. Not 10 mins there and she leans over to me and says in not so many words "we don't fit in here". There it is again; hence why I am sitting here finally finishing the post. (now you know)
So back to topic; appearances in this world are everything. One of one of the first questions I ask a person is what kind of music they listen to? Inevitability there is always the, "I listen to a bit of everything". I hate that damn answer. It's such a cop out / middle of the road answer, and I can't stand when people don't voice opinions. The better question I have learned to ask is what was the last concert you went to? What was the last album you bought? I find that when people put hard earned money on the line they tend to really be into something. When that answer comes I am usually not surprised. You can almost see what a person listens to by the clothes they choose, style of hair, kind of car, and overall mannerisms. Yet somehow my love for metal does not translate to my attire. I find this to be true with a lot of hard rock / metal fans. It's almost like we keep it quite due to some of the stigma that might go along with our choice in music. I think that it is a great disservice to believe that all metal and hard rock lovers have long hair, are heavily tattooed (which I am), and don't hold down a suit and tie job.
So when told I don't fit into the hard rock and metal scene I take little to no offense. You see to me not fitting in is what metal and hard rock is all about.
In late 2012 Papa Roach released their 7th album "The Connection"; their best to date. This post isn't an album review; god knows I would be a tad late to throw my two cents in. This is a post about me and the connection I feel to Jacboby Shaddix their lead singer.
No I am not related, no I am not a friend, and no I am not crazy (well in some circles I am). Let's circle back to NYC circa 2004. I had recently moved into NYC and was living on the UES of Manhattan. I had been there for about 3 months and had not formed any friendships besides one; my doorman. We connected over music, our love of metal and hard rock; he was a devote Metallica fan and I could appreciate that. It must have been a Saturday or a Sunday and I was just coming back from god knows where, Gerry (my doorman) was working as he usually did and as I was walking towards the elevator he yelled out "Hey did anyone ever tell you that you look like the lead singer of Papa Roach?". I laughed, kept on walking and caught the nearest elevator.
You see at that time I didn't listen to Papa Roach. Of course I knew who they were however at that time they were not on my radar, and needless to say I was not a fan. A few days later I looked up some videos of them on youtube and could see a tad resemblance to their lead singer Jacoby Shaddix. At the time my head was shaved and I had this little chubby face, and when Papa Roach released "Infest" in 2000, Jacoby had the same cut and facial features.
Something happens to people when they go on youtube; videos are just fed to you and the next thing you know...... you have been on the site for hours watching whatever floats your boat. It's a sticky little site. It's good if you really want to dive into a band though; and that's what I did with Papa Roach. Soon I bought their back catalog; 3 albums at the time. And then soon enough I was a fan.
It wasn't until 2006 with the release of "The Paramour Sessions" that I became a huge fan. Everything on that album spoke to me. It seemed to be a perfect fit for my life. With songs like I Devise My Own Demise, Crash, Alive, To Be Loved, I soon began to feel like lyrically Jacoby and I were on the same page. He was screaming the lyrics of the feelings that were locked in my head.
This is what this post is really about, the connection. Since my first introduction to Papa Roach I have gown to love their music for what it is and the evolution that it has taken. Most importantly I have loved it because it has never made me feel alone. We can learn to hate our own thoughts if we feel like we are the only ones having them. And once again that is what music
really means to me. If we truly do love our music then we have this unseen connection that no one else understands. Maybe it takes you to a happy place, or maybe it helps with those dark corners.
Jacoby Shaddix's lyrics still speak to me as deeply today as they did in 2006; they are more profound these days. We still seem to be on that same cycle of fighting things that are inherently part of us. I am thankful that his lyrics can sometimes by my voice when I am afraid to talk.
In just a few short weeks they will take the stage and I will get to see a part of me up there singing those lyrics, and I am truly thankful that I can take someone I love along with me who has witnessed those feelings in me. I don't want to be on that stage, I am not obsessed, just a fan. Just a very grateful fan.
"Take your past, burn it up and let it go, Carry on, I'm stonger than you'll ever know" To Be Loved
For the past few months I have been silent about what has
been going on with music on this rant. There seems to be a lull in the hard
rock and metal scene from time to time. Acts are in the studio, not touring, or
just taking a break, and usually that occurs in the summer.It got me thinking; everyone needs a break, and
sometimes the longer the better.
I have seen some of my favorite artists multiple times over
a short period and usually by the last show or venue I have had enough. It’s
not that the sets aren’t different, or that the crowds are all the same, it is more
or less just my psyche telling me I have had enough of this for a while.
Concerts take energy; energy from the band to put on a good
show; energy from the crowd to be into it. For fans there ere is excessive
standing, overly drunk people to deal with, and in warmer climates with outside
venues there are weather concerns. Bands deal with travel time, lack of sleep,
possibly too much of one another and unhealthy living (take that however you
want).Don’t get me wrong I thrive on
live music, it’s just sometimes I can see that we are all just not into it at
this moment. Bands been on tour too long; you are gonna see it. Crowd
been waiting too long in-between sets; you are gonna hear it.
There are times where an album gets too much play, or an act
for that matter on my iPod. I long for new music constantly but as every other
music fan I still have my top 5 yet even those get to the point where I just
have to stop playing them. But here is the good thing about a break from
things; you know you are gonna come back to it. Your favorite band is going to
put out a new album and then tour;and
you are going to run out an get that album and buy those tickets! Being a true
fan of a particular act is something that never dies; it just goes to sleep.
For me there is a strong sense of excitement for these upcoming months. Some of
my top 5 acts are releasing albums and I can hardly wait. I know and hope that
there will be a different sound and a verge from the typical musical direction
of past albums, however I still hope that there is familiarity of the past
records that drags me back in; makes me pull out the whole catalog and listen
intently again.
I am constantly reminded of one band and album that took a
break for a significant amount of time and came back and just blew my hair
back. That band is Buckcherry and that album is “15”. In my eyes possibly one
of the most perfect modern day rock albums put out.By end of this year they will have put out
another one; and although the break from their last one wasn’t as long as it
was the one they took for “15” I know it will hold some gems.
So sit back and take a break from it all; you know you will
be back.
