Merle, Motorhead and a great new Clutch album

One of the great things to happen on the latest season of the great zombie series "The Walking Dead" was a scene where Merle, the redneck everyone loves to hate, is trapped in a car drinking whiskey and cranking up some Motorhead. It just so happens that he is jamming to "Fast and Loose," a fine cut from the group's landmark album Ace of Spades. The perfect tune for a Merle to enjoy whiskey straight out of the bottle as zombies drool, paw and claw all over the car.

Last season, there was an episode of the show called "Nebraska," that featured a great Clutch song called "The Regulator." Some great music is making it's way onto this show. The new Clutch disc needs to make it onto your CD player.  

Earth Mover is a volatile beast of an album. Brimming with attitude and sheer power, it starts strong and keeps building momentum that never stops building until the final track, "The Wolfman kindly requests." And by that point, the urge to play whole thing over again is undeniable. Go get this album.

Here is the audio track to a great cut called-"DC sound attack"

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VXIzmM1DaW8

Ladies and Gentlemen....your credit card please!

I want to personally thank the Rolling Stones for the obscene ticket prices on their upcoming tour. By relinquishing their cheapest seats for a mere $250 each, they have helped validate what I am trying to do with this blog. Did you know that same total you can see about 16 shows (at an average $15) in the Beet Seeking Missile price range.

As a lifelong Stones fan, I continue to have a strong affinity for the band. I think their influence is especially prevalent in today's music. But it's sheer madness to fork over that much dough to see any band, regardless of the fact they haven't put out a good album in over 20 years. That's not the point. We all know these guys are icons and long ago achieved their deserved place in the Pantheon of Rock Gods.
But to pay that price is to feed into the mentality that has driven up concert ticket prices over the past two decades, ever since the Eagles started routinely charging over $100 per ticket. And don't get me started on the Eagles.
Why not instead check out a bunch of new groups? None may become the next Rolling Stones, but you may end up with a substantial amount more satisfaction than you would have by blowing that hard-earned cash and you just might find an up and coming band that you really, really like. Don't spend your music budget in vain.


 

Heartless Bastards-Mini Review

I could hear the voice a block away. As I walked towards Harlow's Nightclub on J. Street in Sacramento on this rainy night, I could hear this deep, booming, husky female voice permeating the walls of the club and resonating onto the wet streets. This voice could have come from ancient times. The deep, perhaps ancient soul behind the voice was almost unsettling as it penetrated through the walls.
At first I thought it may have been a recording, but as I got closer and heard the sound of live drums and the thrum of the crowd, I knew it was the golden voice of Erika Wennerstrom of the Heartless Bastards.

Upon entering the usually noisy club, it blew me away how quiet and reverent the crowd had suddenly become, a hush fallen across them as the band started a quiet number. They were taking it all in on this Easter night. Eventually the band changed course, as they are apt to do, breaking through the intimacy with their raw, blues based rock and amazing cohesiveness.
At one point someone in the crowd shouted "Thanks!" to the band for playing here and Erika thanked him back, then paused, "We thought it was a little strange to play on Easter Sunday, but being here with all of you sure beats sitting in a hotel room" said the road worn singer. With that, the fun commenced again and the Heartless Bastards rocked the room some more.

Heartless Bastards-Easter show in Sac

The Heartless Bastards are truly a merciless musical bunch. "I'm gonna see what tomorrow brings/ I'm gonna take it to the world outside" invokes vocalist Erika Wennerstrom in "Be so happy." The Bastards have done just that in the last year. In a time when folk rock is coming on strong, the Bastards stand apart with their raw blues-based rock that naturally spills over to the folk genre. The band have relentlessly toured and taken strong it to the people with each live opportunity. 
The mega-talented Wennerstrom fronts the band, writes most of the music and sings with ample soul, power and conviction. Her songwriting keeps getting better with each album and the band's most recent release "Arrow" is a fine example of this.
The thunderous backline of drummer Dave Colvin and bassist Jesse Ebaugh form the rhythm core of the band.. Many of the groups' songs begin as these wonderful, sometimes dark and bluesy explorations that expand, reshape and take on grander meaning as the band, which also includes guitarist Mark Nathan, who adds excellent leads and rhythm, help her work things out with a healthy dose of cymbal crashes, abrupt changes and driving force .I only say all of this since this will be the fourth time I've seen this band in the last 10 months and I gladly keep coming back for more. Go see this band!
Heartless Bastards w/Jonny Fritz
Tonight at Harlow's Nightclub 8p..
$15

Review:  Black Star @ The Fox, Oakland, Ca. 3/23/13

Telegraph Ave. in Oakland is a scene full of hustle and bustle on a warm Saturday night. The crowd is young, urban and eager for some hip-hop. We wind our way through a variety of bars, bbq joints and people on the street. All around there is a buzz in the air about Black Star, the superstar hip-hop act featuring Talib Kweli and Mos Def (who now calls himself Yasmin Bey), that rarely tours.
Upon entering the beautiful Fox Theater, I am reminded how the landmark venue's $75 million facelift five years ago made it the most stunning music venue in the Bay Area. With a lush, spacious bowl and rich hues and visceral textures enhancing the building's architectural splendor, it's easy on the eyes.And more importantly, the acoustics are designed for ear candy.

Starting things off were First Light, featuring Pep Love and Opio, a pair of MC's from the Souls of Mischief and Hieroglyphics crews. The duo's battery of stream of consciousness lyrics enthralled many in  the crowd for a while, but as their set wore on, it was clear to them and everyone else, that they were losing steam as the amped crowd anticipated what was coming. It would be nice to see the group stray from the pattern of oft-repeated phrases that have already been done to death from the book of abstract. 

Black Star doesn't tour that much. Talib Kweli is all over the world, all year long with his solo work and occassionally his great group with singer Res called Idle Warship. Bey, the former Mos Def is completely booked with a film career that leaves little time for music.
Thus, it's difficult to get the two together. They only play a handful of shows every year, yet are still considered one of the most talented and creative duo's in hip-hop.

After hitting the stage 40 minutes late, Yasmin began the night  with an apology because he was not feeling very well. He did sound a bit froggy, his usual rich tenor, was audibly scratchy and irritable. But like any real pro, he promised to give it his all. True to his word, that is what he proceeded to do.
Meanwhile, Kweli came out at his usual 120% and floored the audience, who could really care less about anything other than the fact that they were lucky enough to have these legends in their presence.
 Like an overloaded freight train heading downhill, the duo steamed through hit after hit after hit from the Black Star lexicon, Bey, only pausing briefly between songs to take sips of tea. Bey(it's hard not to say Mos Def!) croaked out a staccato stream of lyrics and would occasionally loosen up his voice enough to keep up with Kweli's mad pace. Wisely, at times, he just danced, with an unrehearsed smoothness that only comes from being in the spotlight since his teen years.
The duo kept it up, song after song, until the end when each played a hit of his own. Bey (Def!) going with a nice medley of "Umi Says" and the "Boogie Man" songs. Naturally Kweli could only follow this with a thunderous version of "Get By" that sent the crowd happily back out the door to Telegraph, where food vendors happily fed the hungry bellies since the soul had already been fed.

Black Star Live on The Colbert Report

ALO Tour d'amour blazing into SacTown

Word has it Steve Adams may show up sans the stache.

Lebo-Loved with or without the cool white shades

The great, groovin' funkateers known as ALO (Animal Liberation Orchestra) will be at Harlow's in Sacramento this Saturday night. They are promoting nothing but love on this tour. Love of music. Love of life.And most of all-some hot, steamin', drippin', no holds-barred love for all of their fans!
 D'amour, which translates to "love affair" in French, can be used to describe what the group's fans have felt right back for this great band for over a decade. In that space of time, ALO has grown into nothing less than a movement. The Beet Seeking Missile says Check Em Out!


Check out the band's website:
http://alomusic.com/soundslikethis/band

ALO w/ California Honeydrops
Harlow's Night Club, Sacramento
Feb.16th
Tix $25
Show at 9p.m.

Kenny's Kiss band's BIG SHOW

My favorite all-time Kiss cover is Garth Brooks' version of  "Hard Luck Woman." When i first heard the tune sung by the country great, it reminded me that underneath all that make-up and glimmer, Kiss were really great songwriters. I must admit I was never a true fanatic. Fact: While most of my young friends were hardcore KISS ARMY, I was a little more into Elton John as a youth-don't shoot me I only write this stuff...!). But I always enjoyed their shtick. And a little "Cold Gin" here and there never hurt.

Some people are a little more devoted. That would include my good friend Kenny Serrano. Kenny, a lifelong KISS ARMY guy,  has been wearing the Kiss make-up since he was a youngster at Banta Elementary School. I've seen the pictures that prove it. Kenny does a mean Gene. He's a great bass player, showman and his singing ain't so bad either. And you should see what he can do with fire and blood.
He has been in a couple of different Kiss tribute bands and tons of other bands. One of the early Kiss bands had a shy Paul Stanley.
However, his most recent and successful Kiss tribute band is called Destroyer. They have serious chops and put on a really fun show. Everything you would expect from a Kiss tribute band-The make-up, the boots, lots of blood and even bit of fire.

The group recently headlined at The Great American Music Hall in San Francisco. Did you know this place was named one of the top ten music venues in the United States recenly? That's a pretty good gig!
Check 'em out the next time they come around and tell 'em that Gene's friend sent ya!

Destroyer w/The Butlers and Cruella
Great American Music Hall
San Francisco