Wisconsin Music News by Susan Masino
February 2008
Despite a terrifying north Illinois death ride, I was able to attend a private party for Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp, www.rockcamp.com, which was held in Chicago on Thursday, January 31 at an awesome guitar shop, Make 'N Music, www.makenmusic.com. Along with many veteran campers, we were treated to an acoustic set by Bad Company's Simon Kirke. Simon had flown in from New York City, along with Rock and Roll Fantasy Camp owner David Fischoff, and chief operating officer, Ken Lesnik. This is their tenth year of hosting rock and roll fantasy camps, and the party was the perfect place to sign up for the next gathering, which will be held in Los Angeles from February 15-18. Featured artists will be Nick Mason from Pink Floyd, Beach Boy Brian Wilson, and AC/DC's Cliff Williams, who will be jamming with everyone at the House of Blues on the last night of camp. Thanks to David and Ken for the party invitation, and Teddy, the owner of Make 'N Music, www.myspace.com/dredgedown, who bought us dinner before we attempted to drive back to Wisconsin. While chasing our rock and roll fantasies, we got caught in the middle of one of the worst blizzards I have ever seen. And being from Wisconsin, I've seen a few. Special thanks to Dana, www.myspace.com/freesoul999, a great friend and a very gifted artist, who got the toll money ready, watched out for exits, and kept a never-say-die attitude even when we were driving in a total white-out, while crazy cab drivers crashed all around us.
Along with meeting Teddy from Make 'N Music, we also enjoyed a late night bite with his friend Ruben, Dominick and Rob from the band Stang Stomper, www.myspace.com/stangstomper, and their friend, Nino. That's right, if you're counting, that means Dana and I went out to eat with five guys. All I can say to that is, what blizzard? Check out Stang Stomper, if you're into fun rock mixed with the sounds of '50's Doo Wop, '60's surf, and '70's punk. They even include a cover of the classic, "Pipeline."
Congratulations to Don Coleman, www.myspace.com/doncoleman, Canada's premiere AC/DC vocalist, whose song celebrating the life and spirit of Bon Scott, is dominating the airwaves down under. "Women, Whiskey & Rock 'n' Roll has been airing on Rebel FM Network (Old/NSW) and in the Perth and surrounding areas on weekly FM shows. Perfect timing, since a bronze statue of Bon Scott will be unveiled at a memorial concert at the Claremont Fairgrounds in Australia on February 24. Speaking of AC/DC, (imagine that!),
Brian Johnson lent a helping hand to a local band of high school students in Sarasota, Florida. After handing off a copy of their CD to Brian's wife Brenda, not only did they get invited over to Brian's house, but Brian showed up at their local gig and got up on stage with them to sing "Highway To Hell." Talk about rock and roll fantasies! You can read the full story at www.heraldtribune.com/article/20080129/COMMUNITY.
Please help us raise money to buy instruments for needy kids, and become a member of the MAMAs, (Madison Area Music Awards). For a small donation of $5, you can become a member and vote for your favorite local artists. Bands and musicians can submit their material for $10 for each category, and the submission deadline is Thursday, February 14. For complete details, go to www.themamas.org.
Time To Kill's, www.myspace.com/ttk2007, debut CD, Insanity, will be in stores this month, and available through Turkey Vulture Records. The band will be releasing a video for the title track, "Insanity," in March. Live footage for the video will be recorded in Milwaukee at the Rave during Doomsday 2008 Metal Fest, which was held on February 2. And at the Rave on February 16, when they play with Hell Yeah, Machine Head, Nonpoint, and Ankla.
Congratulations to Boomslang, www.myspace.com/boomslang217, who will be playing a sold-out show with Jackyl at the Palmer Arena in Danville, Illinois on Friday, February 29. You can't buy tickets to this event, but you can win some. Local radio station, Xtra 99.1 will be giving away 100 tickets at Proud Mary's in Tuscola, Illinois on February 16 at 9pm. Another 100 tickets will be given away at the Shovelhead Saloon in Danville on February 23 at 9pm. The venue holds 3,800 and this will be the first time Boomslang has played the Palmer Arena. Jesse James had better get his chainsaw warmed up, because I know Boomslang won't be an easy act to follow!
My Space Favorites for February-
Devils Creek, www.myspace.com/devilscreek Funky, blues rock band from the United Kingdom.
The Hacienda Band, www.myspace.com/thehaciendaband Punky, garage band from Florence, Italy.
Doc Rizk, www.myspace.com/docrisk Old school hip-hop rappers from Pennsylvania. Turn on "Brassed Off" and you'd swear you were partying at Studio 54!
Threshold, www.myspace.com/thresholdmusik Death metal thrashers from Rockford, Illinois.
Dakota, www.myspace.com/dakota_deko A 15 year-old guitar player from Florida who wants to someday perform with his idol, Angus Young. I'd say if he keeps playing at the rate he's going, he might be doing just that!
Powderhog, www.myspace.com/powderhog Kick ass rock band from Denmark. They sound like a cross between Pantera and Danzig with some Cheap Trick thrown in.
LOVE "A Thousand Ways Out of Here!" Powerage, www.myspace.com/poweragerocks Awesome AC/DC tribute band from the Bay Area.
Brainsic, www.myspace.com/brainsic Death metal thrashers from Portland, Oregon. Their My Space page dares you to "make less sense."
Dot Dot Dot, www.myspace.com/dotdotdotonline Power pop rock band from Chicago. Infectious melodies with lush vocals and great production.
Kolour Blind, www.myspace.com/kolourblind Contemporary pop with awesome vocals from Nashville. Very sexy!
Seconds To Fall, www.myspace.com/secondstofall Rock/metal/alternative band from Adelaide, Australia, who bring to mind Disturbed and Soil.
My Space Favorites-
The One, www.myspace.com/theonerok Jazzy progressive rock band from France featuring Jean Alain Roussel, who played on albums by Cat Stevens, Bob Marley and The Police. They are currently in the studio working on their debut album due for a March release.
Halo Stereo, www.myspace.com/halostereo Catchy alt-rock band from Nashville. Voted Budweiser's 2006 Band of the Year.
Underculture, www.myspace.com/underculture Funky 3-piece punk/rock/garage band from Madison, WI.
DJ Speedy, www.myspace.com/djspeedyga Smooth hip-hop artist from Ellenwood, GA.
Nobarbies, www.myspace.com/nobarbiesno Kick ass all-female rock band from Argentina.
Champagne On Ice, www.myspace.com/champagneonicemusic Rockin' band from the United Kingdom, featuring lead vocalist Storm Badishi, who enjoyed top ten singles while a performer in Israel.
Lovecraaft, www.myspace.com/lovecraaft Progressive death metal band from France.
'77, www.myspace.com/seventysevenrocks Bluesy rockin' band with a definite AC/DC influence from Barcelona, Spain.
Unbearable Concerts, www.myspace.com/unbearableconcerts Bone crushing hardcore rock from Belgium. Luckily there is no interpretation needed for head banging.
Deliriumband, www.myspace.com/deliriumband Grungy alternative band with an edge from Austin, Texas.
Winner Takes All, www.myspace.com/winnertakesallrock Catchy melodic band from Chicago, Illinois. "Sweet New Pumas" should be playing on the radio NOW!
Byron Nemeth, www.myspace.com/byronnemethgroup Experimental prog rockers from Cleveland, Ohio.
Midnite Maniac, www.myspace.com/midnitemaniacband Official Krokus tribute band from Italy.
A.D.D., www.myspace.com/addchicago Female fronted metal rock band from Chicago.
The Sleepers, www.myspace.com/thesleepersband Funky 5 piece punk rock band from Chicago. Kind of a cross between the Stones and the Black Crowes.
Broken Melody, www.myspace.com/brokenmelody01 Progressive speed metal/rock band from Italy.
Jimmy Pita, www.myspace.com/jimmypita Bluesy soulful singer from Victoria Australia. My can definitely hear Bon Scott's influence.
Ian Abrahamson, www.myspace.com/ianabrahamson Alternative/pop band from Milwaukee, Wisconsin with catchy tunes and great vocals.
Reverie, www.myspace.com/reverieone Melodic alternative band from Chicago who will be appearing at the Annex in Madison on Tuesday, October 9.
Main Line Riders, www.myspace.com/mainlineriders Metal Christian rockers from Houston, Texas with an AC/DC vibe.
Hirax, www.myspace.com/katonhirax Screaming metal punk band from Cypress, California. Long live metal!
Aortan, www.myspace.com/aortan Progressive monster metal shredder from the United Kingdom.
Electric Lizards, www.myspace.com/electriclizards1 Oh my God! This band from France plays like a lighter AC/DC with a cute guy singing in French. What's not to love? I can't understand a word he's saying, and I don't care! Viva la France!
Artefacto Producciones, www.myspace.com/artefactoproduccionesmx Awesome rappin' rockin' band from Mexico.
Mercury Crossing, www.myspace.com/mercurycrossing Funky 3-piece alternative rock band from Milwaukee, WI.
Operator, www.myspace.com/operatormusic Awesome metal rock band from Los Angeles in the vein of Avenged Sevenfold, who they are on tour with right now.
Alton Kelly, www.myspace.com/altonkelly 4-piece band from Madison, Wisconsin who are still in HIGH SCHOOL! Check out their mellow/jazzy tunes fronted by amazing lead vocalist Ricci Fisher
Potent, www.myspace.com/potent Damn! An L.A. band who claim to be a cross between Rage Against The Machine and Dr. Dre. All I know is they're GOOD!
Unmaker, www.myspace.com/unmakerReally pissed off metal thrashers from Brazil
After Elvis, www.myspace.com/afterelvis Melodic, yet heavy rock band from Knoxville, Tennessee
Gun Shy, www.myspace.com/gunshytheband Possibly the youngest classic/punk/pop rockers out there, hailing from Saint Clair Shores, Michigan.
Each Revolving Door, www.myspace.com/eachrevolvingdoor Excellent rock band from Australia, featuring Kirsti Smith on vocals. Girls rock!
Falling Closer, www.myspace.com/fallingcloser Top notch rock band from Portland, Oregon. Where the hell is THEIR record deal?
Ichabod Crane, www.myspace.com/ichabodcranerocks Crunchy metal rock from Sweden. Tony Iommi liked them enough to play their song "Monsters" on his Planet Rock radio show.
Jonathan Clay, www.myspace.com/jonathanclay A fabulous vocalist from San Marcos, Texas He reminds me of John Mayer
Metakix, www.myspace.com/metakix Metal munchers from Bombay, India Who knew metal is alive and well in India?
The Killing Floor, www.myspace.com/thekillingfloor Stevie Ray Vaughan style rock from San Antonio, Texas.
The Buskers, www.myspace.com/thebuskersband Melodic pop/blues/funk band from Milwaukee, WI.
Paul Bryan Stuckey, www.myspace.com/paulbryanstuckey Shredder in the Joe Satriani vein from Newcastle, England.
CC Rock, www.myspace.com/ccrocksweden Excellent rock band from my motherland, Sweden.
Straw, www.myspace.com/straw1 Awesome metal/alternative band from Reggio Calabria, Italy They sound like the Italian version of Metallica.
The New Rivals, www.myspace.com/thenewrivals Rock/punk band from Sayville, New York. You can't listen to them and not jump up and dance, at least I can't.
Got Music News? Email your news by the 25th of the month to Susan at rokcentral@aol.com or www.susanmasino.com.
To buy copies of Famous Wisconsin Musicians and Rock ’n’ Roll Fantasy, go to www.badgerbooks.com, www.amazon.com or www.barnesandnoble.com. Van Halen-The Early Years DVD on sale at www.vanhalenstore.com.
If you would like to know what were the best and worst years in rock ‘n’ roll, check out the article Rock’s Golden Year by Dave Tianen for the Milwaukee Sentinel at www.jsonline.com/onwisconsin/music. Thank you Dave, for including my opinions!
LET THERE BE ROCK!
Links
http://www.myspace.com/michaelmassey
www.trinityjamesandthebigbad.com
www.livebands.net/JohnMasinoBand
Ben, Mike and Wendy of Sunspot and Susan at The WAMI awards show
Rockin' The Midwest CD series started in 1998, each featuring twelve local and regional bands from the Wisconsin, northern Illinois area
On sale for $5 at Ward Brodt Music Mall is the eighth annual compilation CD,
Rockin’ The Midwest 2005
Featuring Driver 13, Sketchy, Pine, Muzzy Luctin, Sunspot, I Voted For Kodos, Know Boundaries,
Clear Blue Betty, John Masino Band, Awesome Car Funmaker, Chainsnap and Birth Of Tragedy.
The seventh annual compilation CD, Rockin’ The Midwest 2004 features 12 bone crushing tunes from Last Crack, Wheeliebar, Livid, Driver 13, Splyne Drive, Sidetract, Sin City Injectors, White Knuckle Trip, Chainsnap, Rhymes With Deloris, Sunspot and Masino/Cornell.
Rockin' The Midwest CD series!
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