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.
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.
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.
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.
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!!!
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