I Think I Love Kissin' Dynamite

Look, I'll be honest. Not many new bands are doing it for me right now. It's not because I'm not looking...but I just haven't found much that impresses. I decided to give Kissin' Dynamite another shot and I'm glad I did. Sometimes one listen isn't enough to determine the color of a band and I've got to say, I love these young, German metallers.

Kissin' Dynamite recently came out with a new album called Addicted to Metal. The title track is great (see below) but I thought "not Glam enough." Then I kept on listening. (Irony: MetalUnderground thought they were too glam, ha!) Addicted to Metal has some cool moments, especially the Damn Yankees cover of "High Enough." Seriously.

So Kissin' Dynamite started as Blues Kids. Is it me, or does that name (actually, both names) remind you of Kix? The thing is, Kissin' Dynamite is able to effectively blend straight metal with elements of Glam and sleaze. That is to say, they are commercial enough to actually go somewhere.

The bad news is that the physical CD is pretty expensive on Amazon...but the digital download is only 10 bucks. So worthwhile! Have a listen.

"Addicted to Metal"

"High Enough"

"In the Name of the Iron Fist"

I saved the power ballad for last! "Why Can't You Hear Me?" Sort of sounds like "Quicksand Jesus" to me...

Nickelback/Buckcherry/Three Days Grace Show Review

On Friday, the Glam husband and I headed south to Lexington, Kentucky to catch Nickelback/Buckcherry/Three Days Grace in concert on the Dark Horse tour. I won tickets from a Twitter contest.

The show was great! Buckcherry were loads of fun as always. Josh Todd was a little sluggish at the onset, but he got going and the show's momentum carried him through. Three Days Grace were good, too. I missed half their set because I wanted a Diet Coke. Silly mistake on my part, I guess. I've never been in such a slow concession line. I digress.

To be honest, I wasn't at the show for Buckcherry or Three Days Grace. I've seen both bands a total of eight combined times this year. I'd never seen Nickelback and I was excited to add another band on my "must see" list.

I honestly don't get why people hate on Nickelback, but whatever. I like them and that's all that matters to me. And Nickelback plays a long set with lots of pyro. Very Glam! In fact, there were tons of Glam references during their set. The music before Nickelback was Def Leppard, Motley Crue and Guns n' Roses.

Here's the setlist:

Burn It to the Ground

Flat On The Floor

Photograph

Savin' Me

Shakin' Hands

Something in Your Mouth

This Afternoon

Friends In Low Places

If Today Was Your Last Day

Don't Stop Believing

Rockstar

Animals

Drum Solo

Another Brick in the Wall  

How You Remind Me

Too Bad

Gotta Be Somebody

Wanted Dead or Alive

Someday

Figured You Out

My favorite parts of the show included all the pyro at the end and beginning (there was lots in the middle, too). During "Rockstar," a giant screen projected images of credentials of 80s bands like Bon Jovi and W.A.S.P.  I was really hoping Nickelback would do "Side of a Bullet" but that's okay - maybe next time. In all honesty, I would easily put this show in my top five concerts of all time. Nickelback were high energy and you know what? The band members honestly looked like they were having a good time.  All the audience members were having a blast too. Everyone was standing and dancing. That was something good to see.

Too bad I didn't get a freebie from the T-shirt canons. The merch was too expensive for my blood.

Flame away. But don't knock it 'til you try it.

Conan Goes Glam

Comedian Conan O'Brien is gearing up for his new show on TBS. And really, what better way to celebrate than with some Glam? Conan gets sexy with Def Leppard's "Pour Some Sugar on Me."

Once again, Glam proves perfect. I can't imagine any other song that would work as well in this commercial...and really, there aren't many songs better than "Pour Some Sugar On Me."

Oh, and Conan premieres November 8.

Tomorrow, a review of the Buckcherry/Three Days Grace/Nickelback show I caught Friday night in Lexington, Kentucky.

Remember Raging Slab?

Raging Slab isn't Glam, but they are definitely 80s metal. I don't think we've ever talked about them here, but I do dig them when I'm in a "country boogie rock" sort of mood.

I can't help but compare Raging Slab to both the Black Crowes and Lynyrd Skynyrd. Is that fair? Who knows. Still, I think it's an accurate description of the band's sound.

Raging Slab released their indie debut in 1987 and were on a major (RCA) by 1989. There was constant touring, more writing and recording and eventual label issues and lineup changes. I think Raging Slab still exists today, but I'm not sure how long it has been since the band actually played a live gig. At any rate, I'm in the mood - so let's have a listen. And tell me, did you ever see Raging Slab live back in the day?

Paying Respect to John Lennon

Today would have been John Lennon's 70th birthday. I think it is prudent if we pay our respects, both because he was a member of the Beatles and also because he was a brilliant songwriter. I wonder if the world would be any different today if he hadn't been murdered so long ago?

Here's John doing “Come Together.” While it was a Beatles tune, John did most of the writing on this one.

Just consider all the different musicians that have covered, say, “Come Together.” Their backgrounds literally comprise the tapestry of my varied music tastes. I think that is saying something.

Dear Poison: We Want New Music, Not Another Rehash

So Poison will release a box set November 9. The box set, called Nothin’ But a Good Time: The Poison Collection will feature “34 studio hits and concert recordings, plus an exclusive, limited edition ‘Every Rose Has Its Thorn’ bandana.”

Seriously.

A bandana? Oh my.

Why, oh why, do these bands we love keep doing this to us? Must we have another rehash? The box set will have the songs on 2 CDs. I’d say this would be worth buying if there was a rarities disc, too but as it stands, who needs this? It’s all music we already have.

Songs included in the box set include "Every Rose Has Its Thorn," "Unskinny Bop," and "Something To Believe In," among others. The cool part is that the box set includes a full-color booklet with photos.

But seriously, we need some new music. Or some rarities. Or a DVD…something rare or new. Rehash, repackage, re-scam-the-loyal-fans-who-love-you. Whatever. Poison will soon celebrate 25 years of Glam. If that doesn’t call for new music, I don’t know what does. Sure, we’ll all still want to hear “Look What the Cat Dragged In” when we see Poison in concert. But we’ll take a couple new tunes, too.

Nothin’ But a Good Time: The Poison Collection will be released via Capitol/EMI.  

Here's Bret Michaels' new video, too. "Riding Against the Wind"

Remembering Steve Lee of Gotthard

Steve Lee, singer of Gotthard, was killed in an accident Tuesday.  Lee was riding in a group of motorcyclists and was stopped on the side of the road in Nevada when a tractor-trailer slammed into him. Lee was pronounced dead at the scene.  

There's a sad statement on the front of Gotthard's official website, which I suggest you read for yourself.

Let's all listen to a little Gotthard today, in memory of Steve.