Podcast #221: Kids

When asked if he would tell people about the show, he simply said "Disco Stu doesn't advertise".Genghis & Ragman pass the summer with a little chat about having kids - specifically, the children of famous musicians (get your minds out of the gutter, sheesh). It's not a given that these offspring inherit their parents' talents, but the lads discuss the ones that follow in their family's artistic footsteps and the ones that either try and fail, or abandon the biz altogether.

And join Ragman in an informative interview with Stu Block, lead vocalist for Iced Earth, who talks about the band's latest album, Incorruptible, as well as tour plans in the coming months. Be sure to check out the album, available now on iTunes and through Century Media. Now, get your beer hand limber - and get those HORNS UP!

DVD of the Show: DGM - Passing Stages: Live in Milan and Atlanta

Beer of the Show: Space Cake #7 IPA (Clown Shoes Beer)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 3.5 Palate: 3.5 Taste: 3.5 Overall: 3.5	"Though Rags thinks that last year's was better, Clown Shoes gives us a nice fruity and spicy IPA."

Featured Tracks: Harem Scarem - Bite The Bullet; DGM - Reason; Evergrey - Passing Through; Plasmatics - Put Your Love In Me; HSAS - Top Of The Rock; Cheap Trick - The Rest Of My Life; Iced Earth - Anguish of Youth, Black Flag, Seven Headed Whore, Ghost Dance (Awaken the Ancestors), and Brothers

Ragman's Classic of the Show: AC/DC - Love Hungry Man

Genghis' Classic of the Show: Fight - Little Crazy

Genghis' Pick of the Show: Nova Collective - Cascades

Ragman's Pick of the Show: Steel Panther - Poontang Boomerang

- Genghis is in training for BuffBrew's Xmas In July...

Podcast #221: Kids

Podcast #220: Warrant

Not bad for a 33-year-old band, eh? The lads talk all things Warrant for the evening's festivities.Over the last few years many of our favorite artists from the late 80s and early 90s have reunited - and even put out new music. As a fan of this era, and the bands that made it great, we're ecstatic. Join Genghis & Ragman as they discuss one of their favorite bands from the era, Warrant. The boys talk about the early days with the late great Jani Lane, as well as their positive future with Robert Mason (Lynch Mob).

If that wasn't enough Warrant talk for ya then stay tuned, because the lads are joined by Warrant bassist Jerry Dixon who offers up some great insight on the band's latest album, Louder, Harder and Faster, as well as the band's tour plans, and much more.  So strap in and grab a cold one, because this one is going to be a long ride.

DVD of the Show: Warrant - They Came From Hollywood

Beer of the Show: Aurora Orangealis India Pale Ale (Clown Shoes Beer)
	Appearance: 3.5 Aroma: 4.0 Palate: 3.5 Taste: 3.5 Overall: 3.5	"Clown Shoes is helping to convert Genghis to a hop-head with this citrus-y IPA with orange zest. Outstanding!"

Featured Tracks: Tricky Lobsters - Big Book; Warrant - Down Boys; Straight Line Stitch - No Tomorrow; Warrant - Faded; AC/DC - Walk All Over You; The Picturebooks - Your Kisses Burn Like Fire; Warrant - Mr. Rainmaker, Perfect, Only Broken Heart, Let it Go, and All My Bridges are Burning

Genghis' Classic of the Show: Black Label Society - Doomsday Jesus

Ragman's Classic of the Show: Triumph - Tears in the Rain

Genghis' Pick of the Show: Ancient Ascendant - Scaling the Gods

Ragman's Pick of the Show: The Unity - The Wishing Well

- Ragman can't wait to catch the Down Boys this fall...

Podcast #220: Warrant

Podcast #219: Festive

Believe it or not, Genghis & Ragman are not joining Miss May I on tour. They just interviewed 'em.Genghis & Ragman continue this summer season with a little discussion about this year's inaugural Decibel Metal & Beer Fest, April 22-23, at The Fillmore Philadephia. The lads are no strangers to the awesome combined powers of heavy metal music and craft beer, and they wax philosophic on the idea of their ideal metal/beer festival for your listening pleasure. Can you believe your good fortune? Neither can we!

Following that, the boys check in live with Levi Benton and Ryan Neff of Miss May I at White Oak Music Hall in Houston, where they kick off their Shadows Inside Tour in the good ol' U.S. of A. so join the boys for this one on one, as Ryan and Levi discuss the new album and life on the road. So kick back and settle in for a couple of hours of metal, beer, and get them horns up!

DVD Of The Show: Accept - Restless And Live

Beer of the Show: Bourbon Barrel Hellfighter with Cherries (Karbach Brewing Co.)
	Appearance: 3.0 Aroma: 4.0 Palate: 4.0 Taste: 4.0 Overall: 4.0	"One of our favorite Texas breweries knocks it out of the park with their outstanding Hellfighter series. Cheers!"

Featured Tracks: Oni - Eternal Recurrence; Accept - Blood Of The Nations; Light And Shade - Meet Me In Summer; The Aristocrats - Dance Of The Aristocrats; Miss May I - Hey Mister, Shadows Inside, My Destruction, Under Fire, and Day By Day

Ragman's Classic of the Show: King Kobra - Party Animal

Genghis' Classic of the Show: Eniac Requiem - Endless Cosmos

Genghis' Pick of the Show: Haken - 1985

Ragman's Pick of the Show: Dead By April - Playing With Fire

- Genghis is still recovering from that last Maiden show...

Podcast #219: Festive

Mr. Big plays The Scout Bar

Mr. Big playing "Undertow" at The Scout BarSitting down before the show to interview Eric Martin, lead singer for Mr. Big since its inception in the late 80s, it's easy to see why this band is still alive and kicking (ahem). There's a palpable sense of communion between the members of this band that I saw in a small club in San Antonio way back when they toured in support of their debut album nearly 30 years ago. This band likes being this band. And I love that Pat Torpey is still able to tour using a cocktail drum kit while veteran drummer Matt Starr does the heavy lifting, because his voice would be missed.

(clockwise from top left) Billy Sheehan, Eric Martin, Ragman, GenghisKicking things off, Eric ceremoniously pulled out the electric drill, and handed it off to Paul Gilbert for his tongue in cheek showmanship on Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy, which got the crowd going. Following this up with a couple of songs from their comeback album What If... provided a nice juxtaposition between "old" and "new" Mr. Big showing that this band hasn't lost any of their songwriting skills. A mix of tunes from their impressive catalog led to the first inevitable, highly anticipated solo spot from Paul, who unsurprisingly caused jaws to drop at his neo-classical bag of tricks. Fans of his solo work have enjoyed watching Paul's career as he's definitely matured as a [highly prolific] songwriter and musician.

Another few songs, with a well-thought mix of older and newer material that the band banged out like a well-oiled machine, brought us to the mighty Billy Sheehan's bass solo spot. Billy's fretboard mastery is no secret, but it's always awe-inspiring to watch him do his thing like not a day has passed since I first saw him do it decades ago. Taking that solo right into Addicted To That Rush made for a fine finish to the main set, and the crowd didn't show any sign of tiring. To call this band a party band would be an obvious disservice, but I think people just don't know what else to call it when you experience the musical vibe these guys provide. It's the best mix of different eras and aspects of rock and roll: 70s swagger, 80s technical prowess, 90s introspection, and 21st century veteran maturity. Take all of that, stir it in a pot, garnish with familial love, and serve. That's the Mr. Big recipe.

- Genghis has his doubts that Eric will respond in future to "E-Rex"...

Podcast #218: Care

For the record, it was an absolute pleasure to speak with Marios Iliopoulos of Nightrage.The boys are bringing the heavy on this super-sized edition of the Genghis & Ragman Show. Join the fellas as they discuss some recent hard rock and metal news; is it a good thing that Zakk has rejoined Ozzy, and do we care that Ratt and LA Guns have reunited? Tune in to find out. If that weren't enough, G&R give their thoughts on some iconic drummers.

Last, but certainly not least, Nightrage guitarist Marios Iliopoulos joins the boys for a one on one, discussing Nightrage's latest album The Venomous as well as their upcoming tour plans. So grab a case o' brew, and a fine stogie, and lock in because it's going to be a long night.

DVD of the show: Killswitch Engage - Set the World Ablaze

Beer of the Show: Black Currant Saison (Clown Shoes Brewery)
	Appearance: 4.0 Aroma: 3.0 Palate: 3.0 Taste: 3.0 Overall: 3.5	"You don't often run across a fruity saison like this, but Clown Shoes added black currants to a farmhouse brew for some fine results."

Featured Tracks: Kobra And The Lotus - You Don't Know; Killswitch Engage - In Due Time; Noise Pollution - Hole Inside Me; The Devil Wears Prada - To The Key Of Evergreen; LA Guns - Never Enough; Steel Panther - Pussy Ain't Free; Nightrage - Wrapped In Deceitful Dreams, Disturbia, Affliction, In Abhorrence, Trail of Ghosts, and The Puritan

Ragman's Classic of the Show: Roxanne - Nothin' to Lose

Genghis' Classic of the Show: Lynch Mob - Tie Your Mother Down

Ragman's Pick of the Show: Zodiac - Down

Genghis' Pick of the Show: Fallujah - The Void Alone

- Ragman is exhausted after this endeavor...

Podcast #218 - Care