Videos From Cathouse Live

Cathouse Live was held this past weekend at Irvine Meadows Amphitheater in Irvine, California. Some awesome videos are popping up online including this one below featuring Ace Frehley, Sebastian Bach, Gilby Clarke, Michael Starr and Nuno Bettencourt among others.

And here's Dangerous Toys at the fest:

And here's Black n' Blue:

Vocal Viagra Or Virtual Vox: BBG! Pop Quiz

Today's post is from our friend HIM. Happy Sunday! 

It is well-established that I have a love-hate relationship with Motley Crue. I am a fan from day one but, as Judge Mills Lane once said, I wasn’t born yesterday. I try to assess them, and other bands I love, fairly and honestly. Some stand up to the test of time; some don’t.  Some still have moments of glory. Others, to be fair, should have been put out to pasture long ago. Still others I am willing to give a lot of wiggle room to simply because I love them too much to give up on them. I think we all do some variations of the same when it comes to bands we both love and hate.

 

When the Crue are on, I note it. When they aren’t, I do the same. I think I am, and some will disagree, consistent in that regard. Which makes this post not a statement of fact or a call to argue (though I bet some will wager on both those counts). It is simply a question.

 

On Thursday night I was wandering through other, less enjoyable, sites. I stumbled upon a different version of the performance below:

The initial video I watched was a bit clearer. But it was taken down by the person who posted it. That video was incorrectly labeled as 2015; it is clear this is from a 2014 performance. But those details are largely irrelevant. What struck me—and still strikes me— while watching the video(s), especially after watching several other videos of other songs from the same concert, was this: is that Vince singing? I only raise the question because it interests me and might interest others who read BBG.

 

I know, I know. I must have some skin in the game asking a question like this. Really, I don’t. I know bands use backing vocal tracks live. I know some do it more than others. But, comparing this video to other songs from the same concert, I did a full stop. It sounds different to me. If it is live and untouched, kudos to Vince. If it is not, well, that is another story entirely. Again, what caused me to ask the question when watching the video is beside the point. Why tamper with your thoughts beyond simply putting it out there for you to ponder?

 

I defer to all of you for once (people put up with too much of my loquaciousness on this site). To that end, I won’t post a single response to anything any of you have to say. Still, I welcome some responses. But I don’t feel it is my place to provide rejoinders.

 

Let me know what you think.

Joel Hoekstra Releases New Video

Happy Summer Saturday! Joel Hoekstra's 13 just released a lyric video for "Anymore" from the upcoming album Dying to Live. The new album comes out October 16. There's definite potential here - very strong effort. What do you think?

The Winery Dogs Announce New Album

I received this press release about The Winery Dogs that I wanted to share. Here's hoping for some more great music. 

August 13, 2015 – The HOT STREAK will continue this fall for THE WINERY DOGS (Richie Kotzen-lead vocals/guitar, Mike Portnoy-drums, Billy Sheehan-bass).  Their second appropriately titled, self-produced studio album, HOT STREAK, is set for release October 2 on Loud & Proud Records via RED (a division of Sony Music Entertainment) and in the rest of the world via earMUSIC. It will be preceded by the first single, “Oblivion,” set for release August 25 at radio.  A double vinyl edition of the new album is also in the works and is due out in early November.

Ronnie Younkins of KIX Makes Progress, Will Play With Band This Weekend

I recently posted about guitarist Ronnie Younkins of KIX entering rehab. Now, I have an update. KIX bassist Mark Schenker emailed me last night with some great news:

"Saw your post on Ronnie. Thanks for that, very nice of you to put it our there, he has gotten TONS of cards and letters from all over the world. He will be playing the Wisconsin State Fair with us this weekend, he is out of Rehab after about 60 days and he is doing well and is so very happy. It's very emotional for me because I truly disliked having to stand in the spot he has owned since the beginning of KIX, I felt like I was trespassing! So I will be really happy to move back to my old spot and look over to my right and see him mowing down those KIX songs with a ferocity that only he can muster!"

I'm sure the concert this weekend will be epic. My continued best wishes to Ronnie and thanks for all the great music.

Lynch Mob Releases New Video, New Album Next Week

Lynch Mob just released a video for "Testify" from the upcoming album Rebel due out next week via Frontiers. Lynch Mob is currently on tour and the band will play the Monsters of Rock Cruise in February.

Columbia House Files For Bankruptcy

Welp. Another piece of my childhood... is dead. Columbia House has filed for bankruptcy. Parent company Filmed Entertainment Inc. filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and is seeking to sell off the last bits of the business. I can't imagine Columbia House is worth much anymore. At one point, it was a multi-billion dollar enterprise. Columbia House shuttered its music division in 2010 and was only focusing on DVD sales. With the continued popularity of streaming, the old media giant just couldn't compete.