L.A. Guns - Acoustic Gypsy Live

Back in the early 90’s, Mtv unplugged was the show to be on.  Many bands from that era flooded the market with acoustic albums, hoping to have the next big hit.  Bands like Tesla enjoyed much success from their 5 man acoustic jam, and so as it was back in the day, the motto was, once one band had a winning formula, then why not try it yourself.  Well the 90’s have come and gone and so have many of the live acoustic records.  Yes, some bands continue to release acoustic live records, from time to time, but they aren’t as prevalent as the once were.  L.A. Guns is the latest band to that I have heard of trying this concept.  I’m sure that they thought enough time had passed since the last wave, so now might be a good time to give it a go.  Let’s see how they did. 

Before I get started, for those that are living under a proverbial rock, and do not know the latest state of the Guns, then I will gladly enlighten you.  Today there are 2 incarnations of the band making their rounds around on the circuit.  There is the Tracii Guns version, and the other version containing original vocalist Phil Lewis and Steve Riley.  If you’re like me, then you have to side with Tracii on this one, as the true L.A. Guns.  Since the demise of Brides of Destruction, Tracii has been out there actively touring under the Guns name.  The faces rarely stay the same, but hopefully for this new live record, they will for awhile. (Note: The faces have changed once again and Jizzy Pearl is out as vocalist and Dilana Robichaux (Rock Star - Supernova) is in.  Check out podcast#: 127 for the skinny from the man himself)

Acoustic Gypsy Live is a 14 track disk containing a mix of LA Guns classics, along with a few unlikely covers, as well as one new tune.  The CD is mixed well and the band sounds great.  This is one that will grow on you with each listen.  Jizzy does a very nice job vocaly and it is a ashame that he has retired from the music business.  Hopefully not for too long.  Jizzy injects his powerful vocal style while staying true to the original recordings.  Check out One Way Ticket and you'll hear what I mean.  The arrangements of the songs are done well and give a new perspective on the classic tracks.   The covers are okay, but didn't grab me as much as the classic LA tunes.  The new song is a different animal too, and appears to be the only collaboration from Guns and Pearl.  It is a country/folk song, which will turn up the noses of many hard core fans.  All in all, a solid disk and a fun listen.  Check it out.

 



Bottom Line:  LA Guns unplugging and letting the music do the talking.  A fresh take on some classic tunes, but with a few mis-steps on some covers.

Standout Tracks: One Way Ticket, Over the Edge, It's Over Now and The Ballad of Jayne.

-Ragman is hankering to jam on his acoustic.

Podcast #127: Hanger

Miss us yet? Join the boys as the discuss their time off for the summer and try to get back into the swing of things (while dreading the possible return of John). After some reminiscing, Genghis and Ragman tackle the topic of whether or not the old guys can still do it or not; which bands still got it, and which veteran bands should hang up the chaps. The guys discuss this and much, much more. Next, the boys catch up with LA Guns guitarist Tracii Guns for a fireside chat, who discusses the band’s latest release Acoustic Gypsy Live as well as their current line up.

1st Beer of the Show: Viru Beer Rating: 3.5

2nd Beer of the Show: Scaldis Blonde Triple Beer Rating: 2.5

DVD of the Show: AC/DC - Live at River Plate

Featured Tracks: Madam Adam - Art of Lying; AC/DC - Sin City; Scar Symmetry - Morphogenesis; Journey - City of Hope; Baby Animals - Painless; Saraya - Tear Down the Walls; Slave to Gravity - Mr. Regulator; Alice in Chains - Check My Brain; Anthrax - Fight 'Em Till You Can't; LA Guns - Never Enough, Little Soldier, Over The Edge, Rip and Tear & It's Over Now

Classic of the Show: Trixter - Road of a Thousand Dreams

Genghis' Pick of the Show: Symphony X - Children of a Faceless God

Ragman's Pick of the Show: A Day to Remember - This is the House That Doubt Built

- Ragman wishes it were still summer (things just seemed easier then)...

Podcast #127: Hanger

Black Stone Cherry - Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea

Good ol' fashioned Southern rock you can't pass up. Think Alice In Chains by way of Kentucky.Whew, that's a long title to type. Black Stone Cherry's debut album was a nice breath of fresh air in 2006. And their latest effort deftly avoids the label of being a flash in the pan with more of what they've become known for; Southern hard rock that pays homage to its musical influences while still forging an identity of its own with big riffs, tasteful guitar work, and good old-fashioned charisma.

BSC's third studio album Between The Devil And The Deep Blue Sea rocks hard, coming off like Alice In Chains by way of Kentucky. Though, like other new bands that manage to avoid being little more than soundalikes, the boys in BSC do a great job of wearing their influences on their sleeves rather than wearing them as disguises.  So despite the obvious comparisons to bands from The Black Crowes all the way to Lynyrd Skynyrd, they've done a fine job of carving out their own unique sound over the course of their career.

Mind you it's not just all about rocking the whole way through. Tracks like Won't Let Go and In My Blood provide some dynamics with more melodic - almost ballady - respites in one of the most enjoyable albums in a long time.  And a good deal of that goes to the rich vocals of Chris Robertson, who is surely what Southern Comfort would sound like if a bottle could talk.

The Bottom Line: There are albums you listen to when you want to be impressed by this rock and roll music we all like (Van Halen, Dream Theater, et al); music that maybe makes you feel like a bit of a slacker when you hear just how amazing a person can become with dedication and practice. But then there are the albums you listen to for the pure enjoyment of the genre; great music that makes you grin from ear to ear, and sounds like it wants to buy you a beer. That's Black Stone Cherry.

- Genghis has got two zig-zags and you know he'll share...

Yes - Fly From Here

I gotta say I really love Yes, but I can't truly call myself a purist.  I got into the band in the 80's in the Trevor Rabin era, so I had not been privied to all of the great music these guys had done prior.  Sure, I knew Roundabout and the popular tunes, but I didn't know some of their earlier masterpieces.  The band has endured several lineup changes over the years, but the most challenging had to be replacing Jon Anderson (This is actually the 2nd time Anderson has left the band, the first being in the early 80's).  Anderson's vocals are a staple in the Yes sound.   Like many of the classic bands (Journey and Priest for a short time) moving in to the new millennium, Yes recruited a new vocalist, who could emulate the original. 

Fly From Here marks the vocal debut of Benoit David, who was singing in a Yes tribute band, prior to joining the real thing.  David fills the role well, and injects his own style into the vocals.  David does and adequate job vocally, but unfortunately for me, I kept finding myself wanting to hear Anderson.  I have this same feeling with Journey, but that is another story.  This album is the band's 20th and is a return to form of sorts.  The band has gone back to their roots and has created a record that brings back elements from their hay day.  Unfortunately the songs come off a little flat and leave the listener a little bored.  Don't get me wrong, there are some good tracks on this CD, but as a whole this one got me drowsy.

Bottom Line: Yes moving forward with a new vocalist, amongst some controversy.  A solid record, containing elements of the classic sound, but without much punch.  The songs are well written but come off a little stale and a bit of a snoozer.  Good back ground music. (No, I didn't just day that, did I?)

Standout Tracks: Fly From Here Part III - Madman at the Screens and Hour of Need.

-Ragman needs an energy drink about now.

Toby Hitchcock - Mercury's Down

I have to say, that prior to getting Toby Hitchcock's new release Mercury's Down, that I didn't know who the guy was.  I had heard his name on the AOR melodic rock sites, but never had heard the guy sing.  If you are as clueless as I was, then you might be intrigued to know that Toby is the also the lead vocalist of AOR band Pride of Lions with Jim Peterik (Survivor).  While Pride of Lions is on break, Toby teamed up with guitarist Erik Martensson (W.E.T. and Eclipse) for an album bearing his name, but seems to be more of Martensson's baby.  Erik wrote, produced and played guitars on the record.   Many critics are proclaiming this CD to be the melodic record of the year, so let's see what Mercury's Down has to offer.

Mecury's Down is a fine platter of melodic, hook driven rock which will keep the listener entertained throughout.  The disk starts with the somewhat hard hitting This is the Moment, which is probably the heaviest tune on the record.  It is an up-tempo rocker, that almost leads you to believe that the record could be a little heavier than it wound up being.  It is a killer track that is full of melody with one hell of a catchy chorus.  The next song Strong Enough is another up-tempo rocker, that has a total Journey vibe.  Also containing a catchy chorus (common occurence on this one), this one is a little less heavy and more AOR.  This track sounds like what we all wish Journey would sound like today.  It reminds me of some of the heavier moments off of Raised on Radio (not that there wre many). The end of the tune also lends to a killer riff ala Neal Schon.  Don't get me wrong, Hitchock sounds nothing like Steve Perry, but this song sounds like classic Journey.  Actually, Toby kind of reminds me of Mark Free (ex-King Kobra, Unruly Child). 

The rocking continues until the 4th track Let Go, which slows things down abit which takes away from the momentum of the first 3 tracks.  Each following track was either a hit or miss, but fortunately there were more hits than misses.  It  was a nice mix of ballads and mid-tempo rockers with a heavy dose of Journey influence.  It was funny because the track Just Say Good Bye almost has me start singing Don't Stop Believin'.  True story.  Killer track, nonetheless.  My real knock of the CD is that some of the tracks got a little too syrupy for me, but the strength of the heavier tracks, more than make up for the sugar rush.  The track Tear Down the Barricades is the track that sold me on this record.  It is another one of the heavy ones, that is probably the most solid track on the CD.  Killer riff a la Talisman, fueled by a big chorus.  A really solid effort especially when things got a little heavier.

Bottom Line: A nice outing By Hitchcock, which will definitely warrant me checking out some of his previous material.  This guy sang his ass off on this record.  Same thing applies for Martensson, because this guy can rip.  He is a good songwriter as well.  I just thought that the CD got a little too happy for me, in places.  This CD is a melodic rocker's wet dream come true.  Ear candy for days. 

Standout Tracks: This is the Moment, Strong Enough, Summer Nights in Cabo & How to Stop.

- Ragman needs to go to the dentist...