Van Halen Los Angeles Forum Eddie’s solo February 8, 2012

Special props goes out to youtuber MCELVH for posting this on Youtube!

Bill Ward is out of (Lack) Black Sabbath again……….

Something to do with contract agreements…I can only speculate that he once again is getting the raw end of the deal. IF”s it about his playing, well he may not be the “Bill Ward” from the 70’s but neither is Ozzy. Hell, Ozzy has to use teleprompter and rumor has it he pisses his pants every time he hits the stage so he always soaks himself down with water from a bucket. So why can’t they all just play for what time they have left and who ever is in charge of the contracts (Sharon???) get over it, Ozzy has enough money so make the playing field level and let the fans get an original band album again. What do you guys think?

Join the facebook page…

https://www.facebook.com/pages/1000000-Black-Sabbath-fans-say-yes-to-Bill-Ward/387229524625706

New Van Halen Album Review

The following review is a guest post from SteveG.

I have to be honest and say this would have to be brilliant for me to (1) forgive what the VH’s did to Mr Anthony, and (2) also be a big improvement on their track teaser Tattoo, for me to then put my hard-earned on it.

But equally I hate missing out on great music no matter my attitude to a band’s behaviour, so I have given all 13 tracks a few run-throughs and my advice is – sadly – save your cash. It hasn’t been worth the wait.

Song structures are very much the same from start to finish, choruses are there but mostly pretty forgettable (and some are downright awful, “Honeybabysweetiedoll” jumps to mind) , and if the riffs Ed uses were the BEST he has from the “hundreds/thousands of riffs/ideas” he constantly claims he has in his vaults… well, I suggest he deletes the others post-haste to not waste any more time on them. I will say one shining light is Ed’s solos which are, well… worthy of EVH, and certainly Wolfie’s bass playing is not a problem, mainly because you can hardly hear it in the mix!

DLR singing is ok (when he actually sings), cos’ on most of this he struggles to find a melody over EVH’s riffing…he “talk-sings” and rambles in the background a hell of a lot, and often seems a step behind the music, almost like he desperately playing catch-up. “As Is” and “Bullethead” are just two tracks this is pretty obvious on. And WAAAAAAY too much actual speaking in the slower bridges – good for effect here or there, but he does it on most of the songs! The acoustic blues/rock interlude “Stay Frosty” is a freakin’ talk-fest.

Repeated playing does not help – just nothing seems to stick for me. In fact Tattoo may actually be the best song on the album… which obviously says it all.

All up others may have a different opinion, but IMO they are badly missing Mikey (and in many ways Sammy) here esp. in the song writing & harmonies – that is if you could find one or two worth singing to.

This may be the only album we see the “re-formed” VH put out – its certain to sell a ton when first released just from fan expectation, but expect a quick slide down the Billboard 200 once the reviews start and the word starts getting around… and DLR & EVH decide they can no longer put on the front that they like each other.

SteveG

HILLEGAS for Henderson City Commissioner

The 2012 Black Diamond Blues & Tattoos Convention

The 2012 Black Diamond Blues & Tattoos Convention is the Midwest tattoo event of the year, keeping Bowling Green, Kentucky on the map for tattoo culture and lifestyle. This year, the Black Diamond Blues & Tattoos Convention will bring body artists and vendors from all over the United States with several thousand art lovers to share in the public display of creation at the Sloan Convention Center in Historic Bowling Green, Kentucky. Inside, 80 booths of tattooing and vending, a bar and lounge and live performances to keep it lively and interesting throughout the long weekend. This exclusive event is soon to become a cultural phenomenon and it is eagerly anticipated by thousands throughout the area. This landmark show will get bigger and better each year. Tattoos last forever, but the Black Diamond Blues & Tattoos Convention is only 3 days. Come and join us March 30th thru April 1st, 2012 for this landmark 1st annual Black Diamond Blues & Tattoos Convention. The Black Diamond Blues & Tattoos Convention is the premier event of its kind in Kentucky. Representing your product or service at the Blues & Tattoos Convention is the best way to show what you have to offer is interesting and cool! This unique opportunity represents a chance to reach a diverse market that is alternative yet remains retains the purchasing power of older demographics. There are thousands of ways to present your product, but no others will have the same universal appeal and cool factor as the Black Diamond Blues & Tattoos Convention. Over 2000 art lovers and appreciators will gather to celebrate the freedom of expression at the Sloan Convention Center at the Holiday Inn University Plaza Hotel. Expect to find a surprising mix of young and old gathered here for this spectacle. This event will showcase some of the most talented award winning tattoo artists in the Midwest along with a variety of entertainment including live musical performances by today’s hottest blues bands all 3 days, tattoo contests, performers, and art fusion. The art work from the art fusion will be auctioned off on Sunday with the proceeds going to the Autism Society of America. There will be unique vendors, and a tattoo lottery with the proceeds going to the Shriners Hospitals. The Sloan Convention Center will have a full bar set up at this event and the Jager Girls will be there. There will be after parties Friday and Saturday nights at a location to be announced at the show. To sponsor this event, participate as a vendor, or keep up to date with the show as it progresses, check out the web site at www.blackdiamondstudios.org . This show will also be advertised in a full page ad in the February and March issues of Thunder Roads Magazine. The show will also be advertised in TATTOO magazine in the February 13th & March 14th in the Tattoo Times section.

Thanks For Your Time!
Byron Hillegas

Singers Suffer With Shattered Voices

How to Blow off your band interview or how to rock it out….”free advice”

Attention bands… I know Kickacts.com is not the Rolling Stone magazine but hey we do get around 80,000 pages a month (not counting our FB page hits) so we do kinda make some noise. We are here for “YOU”. We send out interviews to help promote “YOUR BAND” ..not my band. The interviews are “FREE”, say that out loud “F.R.E.E”… some of you in bands contact us for “INTERVIEWS”, say it again out loud…INTERVIEW, meaning “FREE” publicity for “YOUR BAND”…I always say be long winded in “YOUR INTERVIEW”, its your place to “PLUG YOUR BAND” and its “FREE”…again its “FREE”…Some of you get that, some of you don’t…When I get your answers back and its a one line answer..or “we don’t know”…I don’t even bother to finish reading your interview or correcting your spelling much less chase down your FB page and take photos and videos off of it to add to your interview.Why you ask?…Because “YOU” are either so arrogant that you got your head up your butt that you think you are Bono and blow off the “FREE INTERVIEW” or your too stupid to realize its “FREE” press is “FREE” and any INTERVIEW is a feather in your cap…and long winded doesn’t mean “one word answers”..jeeshh….GO through our “http://www.kickacts.com/category/ten-questions/
” part of our site at www.kickacts.com and see how well and not how well some of you get it….Your loss not mine if you blow off the interview with short answers…If you ever get as famous as Bono or Madonna feel free to stick me with pins, but until then, you need all the PR you can get and you get that by playing and doing interviews…
chuck

Ten Questions with “CrossFire”

Recently James Lowe from Kickacts Magazine sat down with one of the very exciting artists on the scene. The following is a written interview we conducted with the artist while they were working on their next CD and Tour. First off

I want to thank you for taking the time out of your busy schedule to talk to us here today, as i know our readers have been requesting us get you in here some how some way. You folks have been described by your fans as internet

sensations in this interview we will attempt to figure out how this artist became such a great performer and what they have going forward.

 

1. Welcome to Kick Acts. Tell us a little about yourself and your band and were you can be found at on the web.

–The current members of the band all met at Monroe First UMC in Monroe, GA. It was started by Austin Dykes (guitar) and Justin Cohen (drums) who recorded a few songs together to see how it would go. After the first few songs were done, the name CrossFire was taken. Then, Dalton Young (bass), another member of the church, was discovered. He has been with the band since and has recorded on the last three demos. Our demos can be streamed and downloaded from our facebook page (www.facebook.com/CrossFiretheband).

2. Who are your musical heroes, influences & why?

Personally, Mark Tremonti is the biggest influence on me as a guitar player. I can honestly say that I love everything that he has ever done.

3. Do you have any advice for someone just getting started in playing music? Any pitfalls they should avoid?

-Play what you want to play! Don’t stop practicing songs and learning new tricks. Learn every song that appeals to you.

4. Do you have a greatest gig story you’d like to share?

Not yet! Will soon.

5. On the same token as the above question. How about a “worse gig” ever story.

Not yet! Hopefully won’t soon.

6. Do you have any other hobbies other than playing music? Collect stamps? Collect hats from off the side of the road? Draw pictures of boobs?

Pranking the drummer

7. What do you think about the present music scene or lack of? Care to address that?

The local metalcore scene includes many rising bands such as Gored by A Deer and Adversity. They (as well as other band) are gaining popularity and attention quickly.

8. Tell us something about each of your band members that we wouldn’t expect to hear… Like their hobbies or something like that…

Dalton’s (bass) cousin is the singer for Woe, Is Me, a popular metalcore band on tour in the U.S.

9. Hypothetical situation. You’re stranded on Gilligan’s island and you get to hook up with only one of the girls… Is it Ginger, Mary Ann or Mrs. Howell and why?

…I must say that I have never watched that show in my life.

10. # 10 is called “Shout It Out Loud”. It’s were you get to talk about whatever you want to talk about. So go ahead and “SHOUT IT OUT LOUD”!

Check out the facebook page (www.facebook.com/CrossFiretheband) and tell us what you think!! We appreciate all the support that we have received from everyone!!

Super Bowl Sunday is almost here….

KISS Frontman Paul Stanley — WSJ Exclusive Interview