Author Archive

Interview with Neil Fallon of Clutch – Nerdom, Beer, and Children’s Books


Neil Fallon is the vocalist, lyrical genius/madman of Clutch, and a personal musical hero of mine. While the genre of Fallon’s band is up for debate, the passion of Clutch’s fans is not, cementing the band as a “cult band.”

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Before Clutch’s performance with Orange Goblin, Lionize and Scorpion Child at the Regency Ballroom in San Francisco, I had the honor of sitting down with Neil to discuss his love of Star Wars, beer, lyrical complexity and much more.

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2013
04/10
CATEGORY
Interview
Music
New Loud Rock Music
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Album Review: Biffy Clyro – “Opposites”


2009 saw the breakthrough (everywhere but in America, that is) of the Scottish alternative band Biffy Clyro with their acclaimed album Only Revolutions. Following 3 1/2 years of touring and recording the band has released the long-awaited double album follow-up, Opposites.biffy-clyro-opposites-cover-reveal

Fans of the last two studio albums are surely rejoicing, while some long time fans may be hesitant give this one a go. 

Regardless, thanks to the help of YouTube I have heard the new album almost two months before it’s US release and have discovered that there is a little something for everybody here.

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2013
02/06
CATEGORY
Alternative and Indie Reviews
Music
Music Reviews
New Alt / Indie Music
New Music
Opinion
Reviews
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Song Review – Living With Giants “The Moment We Escaped”


I’m not going to lie. This radio gig certainly has it’s perks. I land interviews with my heroes, I get on the guest list for shows, and I occasionally get some swag.  Recently a band I adore, Living With Giants, contacted me to check out an upcoming song of theirs and write about it. Not only is this a new perk, this is an honor.

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It has been a long while since I have heart new recorded material from the band and I was very exited when the band asked for my thoughts on the demo version of the upcoming single.

The full review and a sample of the track after the jump…

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2013
01/05
CATEGORY
Alternative and Indie Reviews
Metal Reviews
Music
Music Reviews
New Alt / Indie Music
New Local Music
New Loud Rock Music
New Music
Reviews
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Movie Review – The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey


The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is the first chapter of the Peter Jackson Hobbit trilogy. It introduces the viewer to Bilbo Baggins, the Hobbit, and begins his adventure with a Gandalf and a group of dwarves as they attempt to reclaim treasure that was lost years ago to a dragon.

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I must first preface this entire review by saying I have never completed any films in the Lord of the Rings film franchise. I began watching The Fellowship of the Ring years ago and got up and left about forty-five minutes in. I am usually not into the whole wizard, sword battle, elf, dwarf, etc genre. I probably was REALLY not into it that day.

Having said that, I tried my damnedest to go into The Hobbit with an open mind, and I sort of enjoyed the experience of being a blank slate for this film.

I’ll try my best to not spoil anything…

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2012
12/11
CATEGORY
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Interview – Phil Demmel of Machine Head


Phil Demmel is a guitarist that I have looked up to for quite some time. Demmel is the lead guitarist of one of my favorite bands, Machine Head, and I has been a massive influence my my musical writing style.

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Demmel is also a massive inspiration to me for a very different reason. A few years ago, I was diagnosed with a heart condition called vasovagal syncope. Around this some I just happened to listen to Machine Head’s 2007 album, The Blackening, and found comfort in it. As I stewed in my own depression surrounding the difficulties of dealing with my heart condition, videos of Phil fainting on stage began to surface on YouTube. Machine Head would soon announce that Demmel’s condition was the same as mine.

Discovering that one of my musical heroes shared my condition made it much easier to deal with it. I had wanted to talk with Phil about it ever since.

On November 26, I got my chance to talk with him about the band’s recent tour difficulties, the band’s recent free agent status, and our heart condition.

Read and Listen to the full interview after the jump.

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2012
12/06
CATEGORY
Interview
Music
2 comments

Album Review: Vuvuzala – “The Hollow Choir”


Vuvuzela is a New York based band that warms my black heart. They rose from the ashes of a chaotic indie band I adored called Kiss Kiss and thankfully retain the weirdness that the former band carried.

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Over a year ago I contributed my first $10 to a fund-raising effort on KickStarter. This project was the attempt to fund the recording of Vuvuzela’s EP, “The Hollow Choir.” The band succeeded and in the time since then, I bugged the hell out of the band about the recording and kept an eye on their progress. I was often given vague responses which made it almost frustrating to read things like “Recording percussion today for our almost finished album! Cabasa, Guiro and Vibraphone Oh My!” and ” One of the most unfulfilling things you can do is record an entire album, listen to it 30x in your car, and then not release it for months!!” on the band’s twitter over that year. I wanted to hear whatever this beautiful monster was going to be as time went on, so being so secretive certainly helped to build hype and excitement in me.

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2012
12/03
CATEGORY
Alternative and Indie Reviews
Music
Music Reviews
New Alt / Indie Music
New Music
Other Music Reviews
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Interview – Voivod


On Saturday November 17th, I had the opprotunity to chat with guitarist Daniel “Chewy” Mongrain, bassist Jean-Yves “Blacky” Thériault, and for a brief moment drummer/artist Michel “Away” Langevin from Canadian progressive thrash legends Voivod.

We talk about the fairly terrible day the band was having, Mongrain’s experience being in the band he grew up loving, the departure of Jason Newsted, and more.

Read/Listen to the full interview after the jump.

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2012
11/19
CATEGORY
Interview
Music
New Loud Rock Music
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Concert Review – Gwar


Lineup: Gwar, DevilDrier, Cancer bats, Legacy of Disorder
Place: Ace of Spades in Sacramento

It was November 6th, 2012 that the aliens from Scumdog found their way to Sacramento’s Ace of Spades. On this day, Sacramento saw chaos. The city saw blood. The city witnessed…GWAR.

In the evening following my interview with Dave “Oderus Urungus” Brockie from Gwar, I found myself back in The Ace of Spades for what became a very interesting evening for people watching and metal music.

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2012
11/14
CATEGORY
Interview
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Interview – Oderus Urungus from GWAR


Oderus Urungus is the leader of the intergalactic horror metal band GWAR. He is also responsible for the creation of mankind, billions of years old and a former contributor to the Fox News program Red Eye.

To those unfamiliar with Oderus and Gwar, Gwar is a satirical heavy metal band that dawn elaborate costumes for their even more elaborate live shows. Oderus, AKA Dave Brockie, is their lead vocalist and sole constant member.

On November 6th, I had the opportunity to chat with Brockie, in character as Oderus, before their Sacramento show at The Ace of Spades. We touch on who the band would like to “kill” on stage, the (then upcoming) election, their current tour. We discuss what it will take to defeat Gwar, the possibility of collaborating with Annie Lennox, and so much more insane stuff.

WARNING! Brockie does this interview in character as Oderus, so this is a much more vulgar interview that usual.
You have been warned.

Read and hear the full interview after the jump
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2012
11/09
CATEGORY
Interview
Music
2 comments

A Good Week for Prog


Greetings Friends, Enemies, and Frenemies,

Your friendly neighborhood loud rock director here with a quick collection of music reviews in honor of the best day of musical releases we’ve had in quite sometime, October 9th, 2012. I could go on and one with some over-worded introduction, but I’m too stoked on these new albums.

So without further textual blabbery, I bring you PROG!

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2012
10/11
CATEGORY
Metal Reviews
Music
Music Reviews
New Loud Rock Music
New Music
Opinion
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