Journey - Frontiers 30 years later

Last December (2012), I was able to reunite with 3 of my best childhood friends.  John, Kent, Mick and I had spent many days, nights and weekends of our youth hanging out, listening to music, talking about teenage stuff and a whole host of things. I had longed for those days when the 4 of us were "thick as thieves".  Over the holiday season, I was able to contact all of the guys and we got together for an evening of catching up and talking about the “good ole days”.  As Mick and I waited for John and Kent to show up at our eventual meeting spot, we started reminiscing about some inventive ways of gift wrapping for John's birthday that's in early February.  As I thought about it I realized that this goes back 30 years ago. In 1983, we got John a cassette copy of Journey's Frontiers album.

We bought the cassette at Kmart. The store had a policy to seal up their cassettes with those annoying theft proof/loss prevention cases that were almost impossible to get open even when you got them home.  We took the cassette (still in the theft proof case) and duct taped it to piece of plywood and then wrapped something else around it and then gift wrapped it from there. But, that is just one memory associated with this album from 30 years ago.
Many people are fans of this band. Many people are not. I have met both in my encounters with all kinds of music fans. Journey started off as a band to highlight the talents of guitarist Neal Schon and Gregg Rolie(keyboards) after their time as members of Santana from 1971 to 1973.  According to his bio, Neal Schon was asked to play with both Santana and Eric Clapton’s Derek and the Dominos at the age of 15. He went on to play with Santana and met (then) roadie Herbie Herbert and established a friendship. That friendship with Herbie Herbert led to the formation of the “The Golden Gate Rhythm Section” with bassist Ross Valory in 1973. Herbert would become the band’s manager and the band would eventually be called Journey.  Eventually, the drum throne vacancy would be filled by British sticksman Aynsley Dunbar. Dunbar is legendary for having played with Frank Zappa, David Bowie, John Mayall, Jefferson Starship and was even in the running with Mitch Mitchell for the job of drummer for the Jimi Hendrix Experience. 
The original style of music that Journey was playing was more of a jazz-rock fusion progressive instrumental flavor. With this type of instrumental experimentation, the audience size would be limited to musicians only. When the band was signed to Columbia records, their initial record sales were not what one could call “impressive” by any stretch.  The record label suggested the band add a frontman/lead singer to share vocal duties with Gregg Rolie. When I asked a few of my longtime friends about the music of Journey, my former assistant manager and friend Kevin K told me about his love of Journey from the VERY FIRST ALBUM.  As Kevin put it,

“…And while there may be millions of people that would say they had an instant connection with Journey, few would say they had it in 1975 with their first album (which bordered on jazz fusion at times), eponymously titled Journey. But I did.”

The band hired vocalist Robert Fleischman briefly. He played a few shows with band and even co-wrote the hit Wheel in the Sky. But, he was ultimately replaced with the band’s iconic (and often revered) lead vocalist Steve Perry. Thus would begin the band's ascension into greatness.

Of course, the history of this band has been documented through different TV shows like VH1’s Behind the Music. So, for me to recount many of the details of the band’s history would be rather ridiculous. I have watched the Journey episode of VH1’s Behind the Music many times. I have read online interviews with Neal Schon, Herbie Herbert and Steve Perry. I’ve read many interviews with various members of the band from the many lineups too.  After watching the “Director’s Cut” of the Behind The Music, I found out that Steve Perry and Aynsley Dunbar didn’t get along. So, eventually Dunbar was fired.  Dunbar was then replaced by Berklee College of Music alum Steve Smith who the band had met while he was performing with guitarist Ronnie Montrose.  With the changes in drummers, the band continued their climb to stardom and worldwide fame. Gregg Rolie decided to leave the band in 1980 and was quickly replaced by keyboard player Jonathan Cain of the band the Babys. This is the classic lineup that would go on to make some of the most well known songs of their career and this is when the band would appear on my own personal radar.

The band would release their first chart topping number 1 album Escape in 1981. This album would feature the kind of song that Journey would become the masters(sometimes credited as the inventors) of....the power ballad. These are the kind of songs that were perfect for the adolescent boy that I was at the time. These were the songs that you could muster up the courage to ask girls to dance a nice slow dance. Upon closer listen, I realized that this band was musically adept in both ballads and straight up rockers. That may explain some of the disdain often aimed at this band. I asked my friends on Facebook about their memories(both good and bad) about Journey. My high school friend Ted admitted that he had been a very neutral fan about the band.
Ted told me a story of a high school friend(Ted didn’t want to name names) that had his first serious girlfriend and “their song” was Open Arms that was also on the soundtrack for the animated feature Heavy Metal.  So, when Ted and his friend would play basketball and there was a boom box nearby, this friend would “continually stop the game so he could rewind it.”  To this day, Ted says he still “loathes” that song.  In short, Ted says

“Otherwise they're a decent band. I think they were the forefounders of the power ballads that we were tortured with in the late 80s. “Faithfully”, “Send her my love”, etc, then they turn around and try to rock your ass off.”

I honestly think I was one of those guys that would defend the band for their ability to "Rock" after delivering a heartfelt slow power ballad. Among some of my favorites from Escape were Stone in Love. As I relayed my intentions to write up this blog to my various friends, I talked to my old friend Bob. Where I felt like I HAD to make excuses and maybe even" apologize" for liking Journey, Bob outright stated that Journey was a band he felt he DIDN'T have to apologize for. I would always seem to come across someone who was more of a musical snob than I was and would simply brush off Journey as a “Corporate Rock” act and all they did was write mushy power ballads for lovesick teenagers.
When the Frontiers album came out, I was already on track as a Journey fan. By this time, I was picking up every “Rock” or popular music magazine I could get my hands on. I soon became a big fan of drummer Steve Smith. At this time in my life, my love and interest in drums and drumming was growing. I knew the name of the drummer of every band I loved.  When the first single Separate Ways (Worlds Apart) was released and the video began showing on TBS’s Night Tracks and NBC’s Friday Night Videos (we didn’t have MTV yet), my eyes were glued to drummer Steve Smith.  When Steve Smith plays that fill that goes into the chorus at 2:27, I am always in “DRUMMER ECSTASY!”  Many drummers use that fill. At my young age as a developing drummer, that fill enraptured me.  I was over the moon about that brief camera shot. I was hooked. I still love this song just for that drum fill. I still wait for it every time.

Wait for the drum fill at 2:27!!

My friend Val spoke highly of songs like Chain Reaction, Faithfully, and Only the Young. But, she talked about her memory she shared with her son,

"Separate Ways" blew me away the first time I heard it. Probably in 1992 or so, my youngest son, Shaun, and I listened to it every morning when I dropped him off at the middle school, from a cassette deck in the car. He re-wound it every morning, and we jammed out.”

After the successful Frontiers tour, the band released a live documentary video entitled "Journey: Frontiers and Beyond".  I remember renting this video and in the 24 hour rental period I watched 2 or 3 times. Looking back, it's rather amusing that this documentary is narrated by longtime NFL Films voice John Facenda. If you’re unfamiliar with the name, He’s the guy who would set up a slow motion shot of an NFL team running onto the field and say something like “On a cold November morning at Chicago’s Soldier field, the warriors of the grid iron……”

As I stated, I watched this documentary over and over. I loved watching the band on the road, playing onstage and watching them warm up before the show. There’s a scene where drummer Steve Smith is backstage and he’s warming up with a series of rudiments on the arm of the couch.  At that point, I felt the need to start drumming on the arm of the family couch too.  My mother wasn’t exactly happy with that.  I found out much later that my friend Perry was actually on the road with the band and ran cameras for the video screens that they had on tour. There’s a shot at the beginning of the documentary where the camera starts at the beginning of the trucks and the crew and supposedly my friend Perry is in that shot. I’ve watched it a few times. But, it goes by so fast, I can’t tell which one is him. 

The band was huge and I did what I had done with many bands before that. I went back in their catalog to see what the rest of the material was like.  I found a cassette that was a “two albums on one cassette” package. It was the albums Infinity and Next.  Infinity was actually the first album that featured Steve Perry as the vocalist.

It featured the hits Lights, Wheel in the Sky and the consecutively played Feeling that Way/Anytime.  At the time I had purchased this tape, I had my own “walkman”.  Listening on headphones,  I was floored by the layered vocal harmonies on Feeling that Way/Anytime.  The vocals filled my head through the headphones of my walkman. I would carry the tape with me and one of my high school drumming friends actually asked me if this cassette was the new Journey album.

Of course, it wasn’t.  Singer Steve Perry had released his solo album Street Talk in 1984.The band members would all work on various projects outside of the band. Drummer Steve Smith would release his first jazz fusion project Vital Information.  All of these projects had my attention to one degree or another. One of my drumming colleagues had a cassette of Perry’s album and one day he gave me a ride home.  But, he would drive around the school after we got out for the day. He would play the opening track Oh Sherrie and as soon as the second track would come on, he would rewind it and play the song again. I myself got a little annoyed by that because the second track started off with a great Motown style drum fill. I loved that fill and the song intro.  I still enjoy that initial solo album from Steve Perry. But, I longed for the lead guitar sound of Neal Schon and the drumming of Steve Smith.

As fans of Journey would find out, they would have to wait for almost 3 years before the album Raised on Radio would be released in 1986.  By this time, my tastes in music had become that of a heavier nature. I wanted heavy guitar riffs and slamming drums. Journey was definitely not on my list of favorite bands anymore. Then, I found out that the classic Journey rhythm section of Valory and Smith were let go or fired or just weren’t invited to the recording sessions. Steve Smith had been a drumming inspiration to me. He had fueled my growing love of everything drums and drumming and ignited an interest in jazz and fusion with his fusion band Vital Information. Allegedly, Valory and Smith had been fired by Steve Perry because he was producing the album and wanted to use some of the studio musicians he had worked with on his Street Talk album.  Those studio cats were fine at what they do. But, Journey was supposed to be a band with participation from all of the band members. I never bought the Raised on Radio album because of the lack of the classic rhythm section and was angry with Steve Perry in my own little way.

As the 80’s drew to a close, Journey was not the choice of favorite band for a lot of people any more.  I was in college and working at Dustys Records.  The band had splintered and gone their “separate ways”.  Jonathan Cain and Neal Schon formed the band Bad English with Cain’s old bandmates from the Babys – vocalist John Waite and bassist Ricky Phillips.  The band would be rounded out by monster drummer Deen Castronovo. Deen appeared on my own “drum” radar when he played drums on “shredder” guitarist Tony MacAlpine’s album Maximum Security.  Coincidentally, Steve Smith had played drums on MacAlpine’s first album Edge of Insanity.  I saw Bad English in the Spring of 1990 while I was on Spring Break in Austin Texas when they opened up for Whitesnake.  They put on a fine set and Deen (along with Tommy Aldridge with Whitesnake) got my drumming adrenalin pumped up too.  Bad English lasted through a second album in 1991. But, it came and went with little fanfare. Deen and Neal would surface again in 1992 with a band called Hardline. The band was in a heavier vein than both Journey and Bad English.  I saw them play and I actually met Neal before the show at the Ranch Bowl in Omaha Nebraska. My friend Bob and I were both living in Omaha at the time and we were there to witness this concert. But, the sad thing we both noticed was that the crowd was very small. I would say the attendance that night was around 50-100 people. Neal took a small guitar solo and during that solo he would play some of his signature guitar lines from Journey. I don’t think a lot of the crowd caught those references.  I remember Bob telling me that he overheard someone say, “I didn’t know that guy was in Journey.”  I thought how sad that here was a man that had played some of the biggest venues and concerts in world in the 60’s, 70’s and 80’s and here he was playing at a club in Omaha Nebraska that was attached to a bowling alley.

Then, in 1996 it all changed again.  Perry, Schon, Cain, Valory and Smith reunited to record the album Trial by Fire.  The band was back together and recorded a full album and then there was talk of taking this new reunion on the road.  Even though this was big news for longtime Journey fans, I was a little hesitant.  I remember reading the review for the new album in Entertainment Weekly magazine.  The review basically said that here was a return for Journey and the masters of the power ballad. In a way, it felt like a slam of some kind. I had read interviews with Steve Smith and how he had brought some drum “tricks” he had learned from Primus’ Tim Alexander while recording an album bassist Michael Manring.  So, I was looking forward to them.  I liked in some ways. But, it didn’t hold my attention.

Issues came up involving Steve Perry’s health and some hip replacement. The band eventually recruited singer Steve Augeri.  Drummer Steve Smith bowed out of the reunion and concentrated on his fusion band Vital Information and his love of jazz and drummer Deen Castronovo filled the drum seat. Deen had been a big fan and follower of Smith and had been playing with Neal Schon for years. So, the inclusion of Castronovo felt like a great fit. They recorded a few albums and built up their fan base again. I was actually excited about this new music. The band even played in my hometown of North Platte Nebraska at the annual celebration known as “Nebraskaland Days”.  To add to that was the fact that my childhood friend Mick and his band were the opening band for Journey.  I could only imagine the thrill that might have been.

I kept track of the what was happening in the band. Steve Augeri began to struggle with life on the road and keeping up with the demands of the band. They hired journeyman vocalist Jeff Scot Soto to fill in for some live gigs. Drummer Deen Castronovo actually sung some of the old tunes as well. Not only could he play drums like Steve Smith, He can also sing very much like Steve Perry.  But, they didn’t have a permanent lead singer.

Deen Castronovo singing (and drumming)

The band seemed lost without a lead singer yet again. The band was becoming popular in the public’s eye yet again. It was becoming somewhat cool to like Journey again. The band’s iconic song Don’t Stop Believing was used in the last episode of the critically acclaimed HBO drama The Sopranos.

the ultimate acceptance

This was the next push to put them back into the public eye.  But, they had no singer.  Neal Schon began scouring the internet for singers to fill the open spot in the band.  He began looking up Journey type singers and Journey tribute bands and eventually found Arnel Pineda from the Philippines.  It was a rags to riches story of how a man who had spent his youth on the streets of Manila and suddenly was recording and touring with one of the biggest bands of the 70’s and 80’s.  This became such a big story. Ellen Degeneres featured the band on her talk show. CBS Sunday Morning ran a story on this new singer.  The band set out to release new album to be distributed exclusively through Wal-Mart stores.  This CD package also featured a CD of newly re-recorded songs with Arnel on vocals and a live DVD performance of this new lineup.  I loved it all. Arnel sounded wonderful. Did he sound like Steve Perry? Yes, he did. Could you tell the difference? The listener could tell a little by Arnel’s broken English and a bit of his accent that crept in.  For me, his vocals had an added raspiness to it. When he sang Faithfully, he had a subtle way of making it his own.  Their song Any Way You Want it was even used for the promotional campaign for the movie Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs.  You could hear the song used in commercial campaigns on TV. Even my son knew this song and would sing along as I would play it in the car.  I loved to hear my son singing along.  So, I recorded him singing along with the CD and eventually edited the song with some other video footage my son in all his musical glory.

If the band is looking for yet another singer!

I loved the new music on the CD. I loved the newly re-recorded songs. There was a new energy to the band. It felt exciting to be a Journey fan again. Even in the midst of the tour that saw Arnel Pineda adjusting to life in this spotlight, an independent filmmaker produced a documentary of this new singer.  The documentary is called Don’t Stop Believin’: Everyman’s Journey. 

I finally had a chance to watch the documentary this past summer as it was available on Netflix. I watched it with one of my new San Antonio roommates this past summer. He and I both share a love for music and music related documentaries. I asked Jeremy(my roommate) what he thought of Journey. He’s about 12 years younger than me and he had nothing but praise for the band. We both enjoyed the documentary and the performances by the band.

As I look up Journey videos on YouTube, there’s always a ton of comments about how great singer Steve Perry is and how terrible Arnel is. I guess that is human nature to compare old with new and different people in similar roles. There’s always questions about who is “the best” or “favorite” or whatever.  Since I had that brief time of dislike for Steve Perry and how he treated one of my favorite drummers, I’m not one of those to praise him.  Bands are made of a bunch of musicians that work or “band” together.  Don’t get me wrong. Steve Perry was a vital element to the band’s sound that many have come to know and love. But, sometimes it’s hard for classic bands to mend their problems and reunite with the classic members.

The #1 song to drive to!

In early 2014, a list of top songs to drive to and Journey’s Don’t Stop Believin’ was at the top of the list. So, I realize that my friends aren’t the only ones who appreciated the music of this band. But, it goes beyond that.  For me, it starts with a handful of friends and kept growing with more friends and more music that I’ve come to love.

By the way, those friends are still in my thoughts and hopefully one of these days we’ll get together again.

Van Halen - 1984

As I write this, today is January 9, 2014.  On this day in 1984, the album of the year(literally) was released.  Looking back, this was such a big event for me and my circle of friends.  I’m talking about the chart-topping, video friendly and teenage defining album by Van Halen known simply as 1984.

My listening habits and love of Van Halen had been building since my friend Mick introduced the VH album Diver Down in the Fall of 1982.  The sound of Eddie’s stunning guitar, Alex’s muscular drumming mixed with the high harmony vocals of bassist Michael Anthony along with the swagger of David Lee Roth was something that sparked in my teenage mind and gut(and somewhere lower than that).  I would pick up every rock magazine I could get my hands on. I was reading Hit Parader and Circus along with Modern Drummer and Musician magazines just to get a glimpse or article on something pertaining to the Mighty Van Halen. I had started to collect all of their albums. I wanted it all. These were my new rock heroes. 
When it was announced (in late 1983) that Van Halen would be releasing their new album in the new year, I was going to the record store every week, or day or moment I had a chance to find out. Originally, I had read in one of the many magazines that the band was releasing the new album on New Years’ Day 1984.  So, as soon as the calendar changed, I was at one of record stores that I would frequent in those days to see if that new album was in the bins. I don’t remember asking the record store clerks. I just kept checking day after day.  I do remember finding a copy of Billboard magazine with a full page ad for the 1984 album on the back cover of the magazine. I scooped up the magazine for that purpose alone. I tore out the ad and quickly hung it on the inside of the door of my high school locker. I wasn’t sure what the significance of the cherub smoking a cigarette was. I didn’t care. It was so incredibly cool.  I went to the record store and bought a cassette version of the album. I wanted it for mobile purposes to have with me at all times. I had a walkman that I would listen to many an album in the halls of the school between classes and this one was to be #1 on my listening priorities.
I’m not completely sure if I was driving the family station wagon home from the record store or if I got it home and threw on a pair of headphones. I do remember the opening synthesizer sound of 1984 permeating my brain and then swept through my whole body.    The sound of the synthesizer fades out and then fades back in with the opening notes of Jump.  For years, hard rock fans have criticized Eddie for featuring the sound that was practically foreign to the hard rock genre known for favoring the sound of guitar pyrotechnics.  I don’t remember feeling particularly betrayed by the sound of the synths.  If I did, it was momentarily.  The song was catchy and in the middle of the song, Eddie fills it up with one his signature guitar solos.  The band had released the video for Jump a week or so earlier.  So, the song was fresh in most people’s minds and it was the first glimpse of Van Halen on video that most people had ever seen. Apparently, there was some controversy over the band’s video for their cover of Roy Orbison’s Oh Pretty Woman (from Diver Down)and had been pulled a few years earlier. So, here was the whole band performing and hamming it up for the camera. I remember reading that the cost to make this video was very cheap to make. They set up the cameras and played. The playfulness of the band was palpable. Dave strutted with confidence. Mike smiled and played along. Alex slammed away on the drums and Eddie played his keyboards and guitar and won over a nation of new fans with the coolest chesire cat type grin.

“…..Might was well….”

Soon, It seemed that tons of people in my own class were now talking about Van Halen.  I remember being at a school dance and some guys were talking about the video and the band. As I hear my classmates talking about the song and the video, I hear one guy ask another, “What’s up with Eddie’s guitar and his smile and the band etc?”  I hear the other guy say, “I’m not sure. Ask Ferris. He’s the big Van Halen fan.”  I look back at that moment and think that may have been where I may have reached my first moment of “coolness”.  That was when I knew that rock music was what I knew and what I was passionate about.
The second (or third)song was Panama.  What was it about? I have no idea. Did it rock? Yes it did. It starts with the primal pounding of Alex’s drumming and Eddie riffing together.  It’s lyrically filled with all the little innuendos that the band was famous for in the early 80’s.  This was actually the 3rd single released from the album and the second with a video from the album.  Soon, my friends and classmates would be talking about that video as well

“Then I reach between my legs…..and….ease the seat back!”

The song ends and I’m on the edge of my seat and waiting intently and intensely for the next song to start.  This song is Top Jimmy and still to this day is one of my favorites off this album.  It starts with Eddie’s trademark tapping and then Dave weaves the tale of “Watching this cool cat blow”

“They say he sang so good that the roof fell in and they didn’t even stop the show.
They don’t remember the place, but they remember the face
and now everybody wanna go”

I remember discussions about “who was Top Jimmy?” between my friends.  One guy says, “They’re talking Jimi Hendrix!”  By the time I had heard the album a few times, Hit Parader had published an interview with David Lee Roth and he confirms that the song Top Jimmy was about an LA rock, rhythm and blues band called Top Jimmy and the Rhythm Pigs. They were part of the punk/roots scene in the late 70’s and early 80’s.  Once again, my continual reading of rock magazines put me in the know.
The next track is Drop Dead Legs.  There didn’t seem to be anything special about it. But, the song was catchy enough that you could sing along and Alex’s drumming is spot on and muscular as usual. It’s not till I look back at this album and I’m drawn in by everything on this album yet again.
Side two of the album starts with the song that had all my drummer friends talking. Hot for Teacher begins with an Alex Van Halen drum solo that still rocks me to my core.  Over the years, I’ve had fellow drummers say that the drum solo was played on a drum machine.  I think somehow that gets misinterpreted because Alex was playing Simmons electronic drums as his rack and floor toms.  Since that is the technology of the day, it does have a tendency to sound a little “electronic” and dated. But, when he kicks into that double bass hyper boogie groove that leads into the song, It’s all real and all Alex. 

“SIT DOWN, WALDO!”

The video for this song had everything a teenage boy would want to see in a Hard Rock video…..HOT CHICKS!!  It’s funny looking back. But, this video was a bit controversial because the band had child lookalikes that were in a classroom where the teachers were unlike any school faculty I had ever seen before.  If you’re not sure what I mean, watch the video.  There was such a buzz about the song, the video, the drumming.  My friend Mick was the first to say, “Dave, I figured out the opening to Hot For Teacher.”   He had and figured it out well. 
The next track was I’ll Wait. It was also the next single released off the album.  It charted well at #13 on the Billboard charts. The song pumps with Eddie’s new synth sounds and Alex’s strong backbeat. But, looking back, the song always felt like a filler track and not hit single material. I would guess the record company thought that since Jump was a number 1 single that another synth infused track would make a good follow up single.  I’ve always thought that some of the best songs on an album are the ones that the record companies don’t release as singles.
The album finishes up with Girl Gone Bad and House of Pain.  Both of these songs had brief histories in the band’s stage show.  Girl Gone Bad had been used as a brief instrumental intro into Somebody Get Me a Doctor in their live show and House of Pain was one of the songs included on their Gene Simmons produced demo years before they signed with Warner Brothers.
The history of this album is so much fun to reminisce about. I’ve seen various posts lately where people find it amusing that those of us in our 40’s still talk about the greatness of Van Halen in the 80’s. It was great to us. But, there are still young kids that appreciate what we did back then.  Mostly, I’m talking about young drummer Avery Molek who has made an online presence on YouTube who plays along to many classic rock and Heavy Metal songs and does them well. At the age of 6 years old, Avery recorded himself playing along to VH’s Hot for Teacher.  As I watched this 6 year old play, I thought to myself, “I couldn’t even play this song when I was 16 years old.”  He’s gone on to play this song live with country star Brad Paisley both on Good Morning America and made a special appearance at one of Brad’s concerts.

I couldn’t even play this when I was 16 years old.

Of course, this was the last album made by the original band of Dave, Eddie, Alex and Michael Anthony.  The year and a half after this album was released, was probably a rollercoaster ride of fame for the band.  But, in the summer of 1985, it was announced that Dave had left the band and was soon replaced by Sammy Hagar.  There are some that still argue about the pros and cons of the Dave vs Sammy era of the band.  I liked them all.  This band has always been a big thing for me. I still follow what they are doing.  But, Let’s just say my passion for this band is not what it was 30 years ago. 
Now, where has the last 30 years gone?

Music and Listening Habits of 2013

This past year has been a year full of changes. I started the year in Central Nebraska. I moved to San Antonio in late July and eventually ended up moving to Las Cruces, NM in November to be near my son and be a part of his life.  I said in my 2012 listening habits blog that I was looking forward to writing more blogs and more creativity.  Turns out, I only published 3 blogs for 2013. I have been writing. I actually have about 2-3 projects in the “need to finish” bin.  I’ve been so busy with moving, job searching and adapting to new life changes that I haven’t been concentrating heavily on music. I wasn’t even sure if I wanted to write up a list of favorites for the past year.  I am always searching out new music. In this age of internet social media, I usually find out about new music through the posts of my favorite artists on Facebook and Twitter.  Media personalities like VH1 Classic’s Eddie Trunk still flies the flag for fans of Hard Rock and Heavy Metal.  I have continually followed his posts on Facebook and Twitter as well and online episodes of “That Metal Show”.  Two of the albums on my list come from Eddie Trunk’s coverage on That Metal Show and his radio show on NY’s Q104(which I listen to on Iheartradio.com).

One of the guests on this past Spring season of That Metal Show was guitarist Scott Gorham and vocalist Ricky Warwick.  These two had been touring as a reunited lineup of the 70’s Irish band Thin Lizzy.  The reunited lineup had featured guitarist Gorham and Lizzy drummer Brian Downey.  Thin Lizzy founder, vocalist and bassist Phil Lynott had passed away back in 1986. The band had reunited with Ricky Warwick singing the iconic vocals of Phil Lynott and it was soon announced the band would be recording new material.  Longtime fans made it known that new material without Phil Lynott should not be called Thin Lizzy.  Soon thereafter, original drummer Downey left. Since he and Gorham had been the only two from the classic lineup of Thin Lizzy, it was only right to change the name of the band. With the addition of journeyman drummer Jimmy DeGrasso(Y&T, Megadeth, Suicidal Tendencies, Alice Cooper), the band changed to become Black Star Riders and their debut album All Hell Breaks Loose was released. 

At first listen, I thought that this sounded like a lesser version of Thin Lizzy. I knew the history behind the band. I dismissed as nothing more. As a drummer, I had followed the career of Jimmy DeGrasso. He had replaced Leonard Haze in the band Y&T and Nick Menza in Megadeth. I think the majority of the gigs he’s played for have been replacing someone else in an established band.  But, I kept coming back to this album. One Saturday, I was listening to it while doing laundry with the isolated comfort of headphones and the album just rocked me right where I needed to be rocked. Does it sound like Thin Lizzy? Yes it does and in 2013, that’s just what I needed on my personal musical radar. Maybe it’s the Irish blood in me, this one still resonates for me all year long.

Another big one that Eddie Trunk was talking about in 2013 was the debut of a “super-group” trio called Winery Dogs featuring the talents of drummer Mike Portnoy, bassist Billy Sheehan and guitarist Richie Kotzen.

The tale has been told that Portnoy had begun to work with former Whitesnake/Thin Lizzy/Blue Murder guitarist John Sykes for a new project. Sykes didn’t seem to work at the same pace that Portnoy was used to. If you’ve looked at Portnoy’s collective work over the past 2-3 years, you’ll understand. The guy is busy in many different gigs. Trunk suggested hooking up with guitarist Kotzen to fill out the trio with Sheehan.  Sheehan and Portnoy had worked together in a couple of projects and Sheehan and Kotzen had worked together in the band Mr. Big when original guitarist Paul Gilbert left Mr. Big in the late 90’s.  I have always been a big fan of Mr. Big and the 2 albums that Kotzen recorded with the band were no exception.  In the Spring of 2013, this new band released 2 or 3 videos from this new self-titled album.  From the first listen, I was hooked.  I loved the Mr.Big (with Kotzen) albums Get Over It (1999) and Actual Size(Import 2001). So, I knew that I’d probably like them. After all, the only difference in the musical lineup of was that Portnoy was on drums instead of Mr. Big’s Pat Torpey and Kotzen did all of the lead vocals where he shared vocal duties with Eric Martin before.  When I moved to San Antonio in late July, this was my first CD purchase after moving there. I was also excited to hear it being played when I walked into the Sam Ash music store in San Antonio. 

love a good power trio!

It’s no secret that I hold onto a lot of the artists and bands I’m familiar with. So, it should be no surprise about the artist who is next on my list.  Since my teens, I’ve been a big fan of Van Halen(no matter the lead vocalist). Sammy Hagar has always seemed like one of the most down-to-earth guys I’ve ever followed.  So, when he released his album Sammy Hagar & Friends in the Fall of 2013, I was interested. 

Who are his “friends” on this album? They are a variety of artists that resonate with my own listening habits.  Duets with Blues legend Taj Mahal, Heart’s Nancy Wilson, country stars Toby Keith and Ronnie Dunn and two reunion(of sorts) with former collaborators.  He reunites with his former band mates from Montrose (bassist Bill Church and drummer Denny Carmassi) and a mash-up reunion of sorts with Chickenfoot band mates Michael Anthony and Chad Smith and Neal Schon from his 1984 collaboration Hagar Schon Aaronson Shrieve.   Both Chad Smith and Denny Carmassi are drummers that I admire for their heaviness, groove and Bonham-esque style.  The variety of music on this album just touched on everything that I feel comfortable with my own musical tastes.  As I listened to the album, I felt like I was one of Sammy’s friends. I’ve followed his career for such a long time. It was like hanging with an old friend.

Can I be one of Sammy’s friends?

Speaking of collaborative albums, the one that rocked me from first listen this past summer was Blues legend Buddy Guy’s new album titled Rhythm & Blues. 

This was a 2 CD album where it is rhythmic and bluesy. At first, I thought that  Disc 1 was more rhythm with funky songs like Best in Town and a duet version of Messin’ with the Kid featuring Kid Rock.  But, the entire 21 tracks are a study in both. The collaborations include Aerosmith’s Brad Whitford, Joe Perry and Steven Tyler along with Beth Hart and country superstar Keith Urban. This was another album I listened to with headphones in and felt myself desiring more and more as I listened.

Both the Buddy Guy and Sammy Hagar albums featured contributions from artists in today’s current country arena. Although, in my opinion, to call it “Country Music” is a stretch in comparison to country music of the past. One of the artists that has an incredible band of musicians that he both records with and performs with is Brad Paisley. Sometimes, the only thing “Country” about Brad Paisley is the cowboy hat he wears as his regular wardrobe.

His new album Wheelhouse was an album that takes the listener on a ride through the south and through the joys and trials of life. His music varies with Telecaster “chicken pickin’” licks infused with funky rhythms and refreshing samples from old country icons like Andy Griffith and Roger Miller. 

He writes songs about summertime fun, childhood fun, falling in love, getting married, the frustrations of marriage, the struggles of society, breaking up, making up, and all done with heartfelt sincerity along with a sense of humor.

love the sample of Roger Miller’s “Dang me” at the beginning.

10 years ago, Paisley worked with (then) up and comer John Mayer on the CMT show Crossroads.  It’s now 2014 and both of them are still going and recording quality music.  Both of them are very much in the public eye and get a lot of media attention. Paisley is married to actress Kimberley Williams-Paisley who now stars in the ABC drama Nashville.  John Mayer’s professional and musical career is constantly upstaged by his personal life and who he’s dating.  In fact, his current union with pop princess Katy Perry produced a new single called Who You Love on his new album Paradise Valley. 

I became a big fan of Mayer with his 2006 album Continuum and the themes he wrote about on that album. So, I am eager to hear what he has to say on the subsequent releases.  Paradise Valley was no different. His writing style has become less bluesy with a pop feel to a more acoustic laidback feel. As if he’s been sitting in front of an open fire with his guitar and the songs come from there. His electric guitar isn’t absent at all. He just seems more comfortable in his songwriting and delivery.  I have often gone to this album to settle down for the night and ease my stress for the day.

Mayer and Derek Trucks have been two of my favorite guitar players in the past 6-7 years.  For the past 3 years, Derek and his wife Susan Tedeschi have recorded and performed together as the Tedeschi Trucks band.  The music is just the right prescription for everything I look for in music. Susan’s vocals are heartfelt and touching while the band is like the freight train pictured on the cover of their new album Made Up Mind.

I anticipated the release of this album this past fall. As I zipped onto I-35 in San Antonio traffic, the music magically propelled my car to work and made the drive to my tedious job that much more enjoyable.  The funky horns, the double drummers, and the hypnotic slide guitar work on many levels for my own tastes. I continually hear from friends that we share a love for this band. Hopefully, the chance to see them live will come up in 2014. 

Derek’s other gig is playing with his uncle Butch Trucks in the Allman Brothers Band. His fellow guitar playing “brother” Warren Haynes is back in 2013 with his band that started as an Allman’s side project in the mid 90’s. Of course, I’m talking about the versatile jam band known as Gov’t Mule and the new album Shout!

Gov’t Mule is another band that I’ve been following for years.  They can play and write some great bluesy rock stuff and then take a jazz riff and jam on it and expand on it like the great bands of 60’s and 70’s.  Warren Haynes is such a killer guitar player.  Drummer Matt Abts embodies everything I love about the “classic rock” era of drummers like John Bonham, Mitch Mitchell, Ian Paice and Carmine Appice.  This album is no different. Years ago, the band added keyboards to the lineup and the added sound of the Hammond B3 organ just warms my insides.  I can immerse myself in the sounds of the Mule at any time and feel like this is a band carrying on a sound that is definitely missing from the mainstream music landscape.

One of the great British Hard Rock bands of the 70’s was up for induction into the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame this years. I’m talking about (one of my all-time favorite bands) Deep Purple. Alas, they didn’t make the list of inductees again. I was hoping that the band would once again be a presence in the minds of classic rock fans in 2013.  VH1Classic produced a new episode of Behind the Music focusing on Deep Purple and the various members, drug scandals and inner band conflicts.  There was some press with a cover feature on sole original member and drummer Ian Paice in the June 2013 issue of DRUM! magazine and the band released its first album of new material in 8 years and their 19th studio album called Now What?!

 

To some it may seem as some kind of joke that Deep Purple is still making music and the only fans left are balding men in their mid-40’s holding on to the remnants of their 80’s mullet hairdo.  Just to be clear, I gave up on my mullet years ago. But, Deep Purple still holds a musical mixture that still revs me up. Is this the same hard-driving band of the early 70’s blazing a trail by Space Trucking and Speed King? Not really. Drummer Ian Paice, bassist Roger Glover and vocalist Ian Gillan are the only members from that classic lineup. Hammond organ master Jon Lord left the band over 10 years ago and passed away in July 2012 and original guitarist Richie Blackmore left the band 20 years ago.  Blackmore was replaced in the 90’s by Dixie Dregs guitarist Steve Morse and journeyman keysman Don Airey (Ozzy Osbourne, Rainbow) replaced Lord back in 2001. 

These guys have mellowed with age. But the musicianship is still top notch. I’ve stated before that I met Steve Morse in the 90’s and he was very down-to-earth and a consummate musician who loves playing guitar and making music. Don Airey fills in for Jon Lord perfectly with the tasteful coloring of the Hammond organ.  Gillan can’t reach those high screaming notes like he did in the 70’s. But, his vocals still holds a certain timbre and rasp that feels like home.  Lastly, the rhythm section of Glover and Paice drive everything else.  Ian Paice is one of my favorite drummers.  Some days, I favor his breadth of work and playing over my other favorites like Zeppelin’s John Bonham.  This album peaked at number 1 on the album charts in Germany, Austria, Czechoslovakia, and Norway. So, the main audience for Deep Purple was the European crowds. How high did the album chart in America where the media were concentrating on Beyonce and Miley Cyrus? It charted at 110 on the Top 200 album chart. They did manage to release a cool video as a tribute to classic horror movies called Vincent Price

The other classic British band that got plenty of attention in America this past year was none other than the partially reunited Heavy Metal forefathers Black Sabbath.  There was plenty of coverage for the reunion. But, original drummer Bill Ward couldn’t come to an agreement on the financial end of the reunion and the business end of the music “business”.  Producer Rick Rubin took the helm for this project with drummer Brad Wilk(Rage Against the Machine, Audioslave) playing with original Sabbath elders Ozzy Osbourne, Geezer Butler and Tony Iommi for the album 13

With all the hype and anticipation going into this album, I was apprehensive about my own expectations.  For years, the riffs that Tony Iommi would write were heavy and cool to the ear. But, after a few minutes of listening to them, the tempos would plod and drone along and it wouldn’t keep my attention.  As a drummer, I want some variety to the pounding and plundering.  The first single that was released digitally was a song called God is Dead? (note the question mark)  The song clocks in at almost 9 minutes. It starts with the heaviness of a classic Sabbath tune.  But, if you hang on, there are tempo changes and it swings with a feel of classic Sabbath like something like Faeries Wear Boots.  According to the interviews with the band, Rick Rubin assigned band homework to listen to the first 4 Sabbath albums and get the ideas from those early recordings of their youth.  It took me a couple of listens. But, this was such a refreshing and sonically heavy album that still feels new and yet as classic as Sabbath gems like Paranoid and Masters of Reality.

my personal favorite from 13

There you have it. 10 new releases from 2013.  I wasn’t sure I could come up with 10 albums. I even had a couple others that “bubbled” under the 10.

 King Kobra II – my old drum hero Carmine Appice reunited with his 80’s hair band King Kobra and released an album of songs about “having a good time”, “knocking ‘em dead” and “running wild”.  I laughed at some of the cheesy lyrics from a band of guys who have got to be in their late 50’s and mid 60’s. I find it hard to believe that these are the same kind of partiers they might have been in the 80’s. But, as a fan of Carmine and his drumming, it felt so good to settle into his playing and the groove I’ve followed since I first  started following his career back in my teens.

Humble Pie – Performance:Rockin’ the Fillmore –The Complete Recordings

I had heard and read about this monumental and highly revered live album for years. I had a copy of it too. I’m a fan of drummer Jerry Shirley from his work on Frampton Comes Alive and the 80’s band Fastway.  So, when I saw that this extended reissue came out, I was excited to hear more and was drawn in by the underrated and forgotten vocals of the late Steve Marriott.

In 2014, I look forward to new experiences here in Las Cruces, NM. I anticipate the new musical interactions with the Mesilla Valley Musicians Guild as we meet up the first Monday night of every month to play music, jam and take in some local talent and music.

There’s a couple of new releases from artists that I admire and have been following over the years. I’m sure I’ll discover a few new things too.  But, I look forward to spending time with my son and develop his blossoming interest in playing drums with his daddy.

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!