Band Vs Brand

When did the brand, get bigger than the band?  No one really knows, but it was thought to have started in the 40's and 50's.  As many of us know, the band name is the thing that brings people in the door.  Unfortunately, or fortunately for some bands, the band's name sells tickets, no matter who is in the band.  Perfect examples are Kiss and Foreigner.  As bands get older and members change, the casual fan, does not notice which members have been replaced.

Band Vs Brand is a new documentary focussing on the band vs brand comparison.  Filmmaker Bob Nalbandian decided to tackle this topic for his latest documentary.  Bob is best known for his Inside Metal series, but has taken things to a new level with this latest documentary.  Not only does the film explore the bands with revolving doors, but it also looks at the the entrepreneur skills of several artists.  Not only do these guys make music, they also sell coffee, alcohol and hot sauce using their band's name to market their products.  Since the music industry is in a shambles, as far as record sales go, several band have found new ways to make a buck.  Band Vs Brand really opens your eyes up to the way the music business is run today, opposed to yesteryear. This one's a keeper folks.

Bottom Line:  An in depth look at the music industry as it is today.  There are lots of insightful interviews with several hard rock and heavy metal legends.

-Ragman is amazed by how savvy some of these rockers are.

Steven Wilson - Home Invasion: In Concert At The Royal Albert Hall

I have to admit, I came late to the party when it comes to Steven Wilson and Porcupine Tree.  I had heard his name as well as his former band mentioned several times, over the years, but did not lock in until his last solo record To the Bone.  Believe it or not I was in a record store in Bologna, Italy the first time I heard it playing.  I thought to myself wow, this is bad ass, I wonder who it is, so I asked the proprietor and he told me it was Steven Wilson.  At that point, I was hooked.  All that said, Steven has just released his latest live show on CD and BluRay, which was recorded in London at the The Royal Albert Hall.

This is show was shot beautifully.  You get that sense of being in the arena viewing the show from every angle.  Steven has a very stimulating light show and use of visual effects.  He uses a back screen to add visual effects as well as bring in some clips from his music videos, to add to the dynamic of the show.  The audio on this release is equally impressive.  Steven and his band sound amazing live.  The set list is comprised mostly of Wilson's solo work, but as a bonus, he has thrown in 6 Porcupine Tree songs to appease the diehards.  This is a solid release and is a must have for Wilson's fans.  Also, if you're new to Porcupine or Steven Wilson, then this is a perfect way to get a preview of what this guy is about.  You will not be disappointed.

Bottom Line: Steven Wilson showing off how bad ass he and his band are.  A great visual as well as sounding incredible.  If you remotley like Steven Wilson, then this one is worth checking out.  After one viewing, you'll be sold.

-Ragman still can't believe it took him this long to discover the musical genius, which is Steven Wilson.

Super Duper Alice Cooper

You have to hand it to the boys at Banger Films, because these guys know how to make a great rock documentary.  The boys have tackled the world of hard rock and metal with a Headbanger's Journey as well as with Metal Evolution.  They also have also produced solid docs on Rush and Iron Maiden.  Their latest project to tackle is a documentary on the Godfather of Glam, Alice Cooper.  Each film these guys do, is a little different from the last, so be prepared for another solid experience.

Super Duper Alice Cooper dives into the transformation of Vince Furnier to Alice Cooper.  It is a Jekyll and Hyde story, in which a straight laced young man, from Phoenix, turns in to a rock n roll madman.  The film takes you all the way back, to the early days of Vince's career.  It chronicles from his first band, The Earwigs, all of the way up to the rise and fall of Alice Cooper.  It is a wild journey that shows how the excesses of drugs and alcohol, can come close to destroying one's life. 

The film is full of rare archived footage and still photography, which narrated by Alice and and other key people in his life.  I like how the film dove into the breakup of the Alice Cooper Band and how Alice, with the help of Bob Ezrin, was able to move forward, after the split.  Alice succeeded, after the band broke, but in the end fell victim to drugs and alcohol.  It wasn't until he conquered his demons, that he got his career back on track. 

The movie ends, as Alice is making his comeback into the rock world.  I really like that they touched on his comeback and his relationship with ex-guitarist Kane Roberts.  They were a solid team.  It is ashame their partnership didn't last longer.  Super Duper is a solid film from start to finish, which kept me wanting more.  An in depth look into one of the godfathers of glam and stage theatrics.

 

Bottom Line:  Another solid rock doc from Banger films.  The rise and fall and resurrection of Alice Cooper.  A classic tale, of a man than lived to the excess of life but was able to wake up before his demons took his life.  A must for all Alice fans.

-Ragman is wondering if there will be a part 2.    

Update on Wednesday, August 6, 2014 at 11:23PM by Genghis

Click to embiggen and gaze upon one of the hottest female guitarists in the world. I demand it!The one downside here: This Blu-Ray isn't from the current tour lineup so I can see Nita Strauss on guitar. Rowrrr. *sigh*

- Genghis actually has it pretty bad for most of The Iron Maidens guitarists...

Dio - Live in London (Hammersmith Apollo)

Oh, how I've been waiting for a DVD from this era of Dio - and on BluRay, no less. It is a dream come true, and for most Dio fans this is a lost era of the band. The band was struggling to find their own, after hosting 3 different guitarists within the span of 5 years, so to make an impact Ronnie was having to mix things up a bit. The first piece of the puzzle was to find a new guitarist - and that he did when he locked in on newcomer Tracy G (Ex-WWIII), leading to a 6-year partnership. It also marked the debut of Ex-Dokken bassist Jeff Pilson. And if that weren't enough, it also marked the return of long-time drummer Vinny Appice, making this incarnation a force to be reckoned with, as is apparent in the new DVD release: Dio - Live in London.

The DVD was filmed '92, in London, on the the Strange Highways tour, and that album marked a new darker/heavier direction for the band - and was possibly the heaviest record Dio ever made. Live in London is a great document of that tour and record. First off, the band sounds amazing and was definitely on top of their game for this show. The setlist is a mix of classic Dio, with a heavy inclusion of songs from the Strange Highways album. Of course, there are the mandatory Sabbath and Rainbow tunes included, but for the most part it's Dio solo material.

Live in London is shot very well and the hi-definition video gives the viewer a sense of being in the front row.  The picture is next to perfect, albeit in a 4:3 aspect ratio, and the band all seems to be having the time of their life putting on one hell of a show. Ronnie's vocals are dead on, and Tracy's playing is very impressive. One of the things I enjoyed most about this DVD was Tracy's interpretation of the solos of his predecessors, keeping the basic ideas of Campbell, Iommi and Blackmore, but putting his own spin on them. I have to say, this is one of the better live Dio DVDs I have in my collection. It's simply a must have for any Dio fan. Go get it!

The Bottom Line: Dio proves once again that he is the greatest metal vocalist of all time. And this DVD is a testament to how good this era of the band was, with great musicianship and great songs executed to perfection.

- Ragman can't wait to see what the Dio camp releases next...

Aerosmith - Rock For the Rising Sun (BluRay)

Rock For the Rising Sun, is a concert film documenting Aerosmith's tour of Japan, after the Tsunami in 2011. Even though the band band had been told not to go, they decided to forge on to Japan.  The DVD is a mix of live and behind the scenes footage of the band, during their visit to the land of the rising sun.  The live footage was comprised from various stops on the tour, featuring an impressive set list, which includes all of their hits as well as some classics gems.  The show looks amazing and the band sounds great.  This is one of those BluRay's that gives you a sense of being in the first row.  Aerosmith doing what they do best, putting on one of the best live show in rock n roll.  This one's a keeper.

Bottom Line: Even though the band fights, in the media, like cats and dogs, they can still somehow pull it together, to put on a stellar live performance.  The band look and sound great and prove why they are still one of the greats. 

-Ragman enjoyed this DVD, more than he did their last performance in H-town.