The new King Kobra record is a rocker! The self-titled record is available now via Frontiers. I talked with singer Paul Shortino awhile back for Noisecreep. He told me the band hopes to jump on a tour soon - maybe in the fall? At any rate, I'd like to see the band live and hear some of the new tunes as well as the old stuff.
Here's "Turn Up the Good Times." Doesn't guitarist David Henzerling look cool?
Did you hear that Mr. Big is going on a U.S. tour this summer? I recently saw the band at the M3 festival last month and they were great. If you have a chance, you should check out the band live. Here are the details.
HOLLYWOOD, CA (June 21, 2011) - MR. BIG will once again unleash their brand of brutal fury on their first U.S. tour in 15 years starting July 30th, in San Diego at the 4th & B. Returning fresh from a successful run of tour dates overseas, vocalist Eric Martin, guitarist Paul Gilbert, bassist Billy Sheehan, and drummer Pat Torpey, will be hitting the road in the United States this summer in support of the band’s new album, WHAT IF… "Man, it's been a long time,” states guitarist Paul Gilbert. I can't wait to play our first show in AMERICA in about 15 years. It's gonna be huge!"
What If… is MR. BIG’s first all original album since the reunion of the four original members, Eric Martin, Paul Gilbert, Billy Sheehan and Pat Torpey back in early 2009. Sixteen years after the release of "Hey Man," the new recording is set to bring back MR. BIG on the height of the current Hard Rock scene.
Guitarist Paul Gilbert said: “This is the first MR. BIG album I have been a part of, since fourteen years and it was done in a snap. It was fun and we had really a good time in making this one”. Continues Billy Sheehan “It’s so great to be back with Paul, Eric and Pat too. We wrote this record like we did in the old days for the first 2 records. Jamming together in the same room to write songs.” Pat Torpey adds ““Some of the recording process is different now from what we were used to in the old times. But I think this record really managed to capture the performances of the band, not of the individual musicians”.
Their hits included "To Be With You" (Billboard Hot 100 number one single in 15 countries for weeks, in 1991, propelling the band the band to huge international success and record sales in the multi-millions), "Wild World", Green-Tinted sixties Mind", "Just Take My Heart", and a host of heavy metal songs that were played mostly during their live performances: "Daddy, Brother, Lover, Little Boy", "Addicted to that Rush", "Colorado Bulldog", and "Take Cover."
What If… is released in a special edition CD + DVD in digipak, regular CD, vinyl and digital download and in a limited edition luxury box including the CD, DVD, LP and exclusive memorabilia. What If… track-listing includes: Undertow; American Beauty; Stranger In My Life; Nobody Takes the Blame; Still Ain’t Enough for Me; Once Upon a Time; As Far As I Can See; All The Way Up; I Won't Get In My Way; Around The World; I Get The Feeling; Unforgiven (exclusive bonus track for Europe / North America – not on vinyl edition).
The DVD will include the video clips of “Undertow” and “All the Way Up” plus a documentary “Making of” the album including interviews and exclusive behind the scenes features of the four members.
In other Mr. Big news, the next single from the new album, “American Beauty,” will ship to radio in July in support of the tour.
MR. BIG on tour:
JULY
30 San Diego, CA 4th & B 31 Agoura Hills, CA The Canyon Club
AUGUST
2 Tempe, AZ Marquee Theatre 4 Santa Ana, CA Galaxy Theatre 5 San Francisco, CA The Fillmore 6 Modesto, CA Xclamation Festival 8 Salt Lake City, UT The Complex 9 Denver, CO Summit Music Hall 12 Chicago, IL House Of Blues 13 Columbus, OH Al Rosa Villa 16 Pittsburgh, PA Trib Total Media Amphitheatre 17 Cleveland, OH House Of Blues 19 Buffalo, NY Town Ballroom 20 Detroit, MI Harpo’s 23 New York, NY BB King’s 24 Foxborough, MA Showcase Live 26 N. Myrtle Beach, SC House Of Blues 27 Lake Buena Vista, FL House Of Blues 30 Houston, TX House Of Blues 31 Dallas, TX House Of Blues
Is it me, or does every band, every concert, every festival offer some VIP package these days? If hundreds (thousands?) buy into the privilege... is it really still a privilege?
I think the entire current trend of VIP hysteria is a load of crap. I saw Uriah Heep Friday night for $5 and guess what? The band was selling a VIP package for $100! That got you a seat on stage and a shirt. Our friend and BBG! writer Brian mentioned to me the other day that Cinderella is offering VIP packages on their summer tour. He said something about $700 but I can't believe they would charge that much. I mean, could they? Who is going to pay $700 for a meet and greet? Or just for the chance to "be up close." Insane.
Then there are those VIP packages that expressly say you will not get to meet the band but you get a close seat... and get early entry to the merchandise tent. Great. A more private chance to spend more money. Bon Jovi does this. I'm sure other really big bands do, too. I know Britney Spears did some VIP packages on our Circus tour that featured front row "couch" seats for a grand a pop or something. You got to tour backstage -- you did not get to meet Ms. Spears.
Then there's Motley Crue. On past tours, they charged hundreds to sit in the first 10 rows and to "meet the band" which was basically a cattle call with a photo.
I've had VIP wrist bands at Rocklahoma and Rock the Bayou. I bought those for the air conditioning. I never care so much about where I'm sitting at a show, especially a festival but I can't take the heat very well, so I plunked down the cash for VIP. This was okay at Rocklahoma but I got ripped off at Rock the Bayou. That festival was in Houston at the end of August and the air conditioning basically broke on the first day. It was miserable and I was out a ton of cash. Sure I was up close, but it didn't matter. There were so few people at that fest, it wasn't hard to get to the barrier whenever I wanted.
Maybe I come at it from a different point of view. I know I'm lucky because I get many media passes to shows and festivals and I can freely talk to bands if I so choose. You will never find me just randomly hanging out backstage -- if I'm around a musician, it is because I am working. I understand I have some certain opportunities others may not, but still. I just can't fathom spending $1,000 to meet... anyone.
Brian disagrees with me. He thinks that VIP is worthwhile in instances where you get certain perks, namely close seats. He had front row at M3 last year and had a ball. I still say it's all a cash grab and it's painful for me to say that. I'm an unabashed capitalist -- but I still just don't think it's "VIP" if just anyone with a credit card can get front row or backstage or whatever. It used to be you didn't have to mortgage your home to meet your favorite bands. You went to shows, you hung around near the buses, and you met your heroes. End of story.
So go ahead. Bash away. I'm sure I'm in the minority opinion here.
I never, ever think about Winger's cover of "Purple Haze" but the song came on Hair Nation yesterday and I had to crank the radio!
Some will think I'm crazy and others will scream and holler, but I swear the Winger version of "Purple Haze" is heavier than the original. I love the crunch of the guitar and Kip Winger's voice on the track. I know that when Winger came out in 1988, critics threw a hissy over the cover, deeming a "new" band not good enough to cover Jimi Hendrix. On that I call hogwash. The guys in Winger are and were supreme musicians. Sure, not everyone can pull off Hendrix, but that is not the case with the Winger guys. Let's not forget the Winger cover features Dweezil Zapa on guitar and that is cool, too.
Clemons started playing with Springsteen in the early 70s. He is regarded by many as one of the best sax players of all time. Beyond Springsteen, he has collaborated with many other artists including Lady Gaga.
Ever go see a band without really knowing any of their tunes?
Last night I saw Uriah Heep. I'd checked them out on YouTube but don't really own their records. The concert was just $5 and across the street from my house. I went with some friends.
It is weird going to shows when you don't know the lyrics to every song. I'd say 90% of the time, I know every single song performed when I see a band live. That's probably because I'm only paying to see bands I really like, yes? Festivals are the anomaly of course. There are plenty of bands at fests I'll "study for" in advance and still not know songs. Then there are those rare instances when I wasn't really a fan to begin with and seeing the act live completely converts me. During those magical instances, I'll rush home, buy every album and become obsessed.
Question today: which glam band did you see live without really being a fan and were completley flipped during the course of the concert?
I’ve liked Black Stone Cherry for a long time. I’ve enjoyed all their CDs, and was very happy to see them at Rock on the Range a couple of years ago. I pre-ordered Between the Devil & the Deep Blue Sea, and got the special edition, with three extra tracks. Inevitably, as bands try to keep alive on an ever shrinking market, there will be a "super deluxe edition" in a few months, with a DVD of random clips shot during the recording process, a promo video, a couple of acoustic versions, a cover, and some live tracks. I will probably buy that, too.
I’m sure everyone has heard the single, "White Trash Millionaire." A riff driven rock song, it definitely shows their 70s influence, but only in a good way. The second track, "Killing Floor" continues in the same vein. Track three is the first ballad, but it’s a good ballad, not a Def Leppard style ballad. "Such a Shame" opens with one of the faster riffs on the album. I think these guys are outgrowing the Southern rock comparisons, the influence is still there, but they are finding their own sound, and it’s not all based on the past, or in Lynyrd Skynyrd.
The next track, "Blame it on the Boom Boom," is obvious in it’s subject matter, and is in general an obvious rocker. Starting with a very southern sort of riff, it quickly turns in to a foot stomping sing along rock song. I’d love to see the guys play this live.
I’m detecting a pattern here. Track 7 is not quite a ballad, but it’s a more open, acoustic sort of song. All these ballads have their rockier moments, none is "More than Words" or "Two Steps Behind." The next song caught me by surprise the first time. I was listening to this song that starts with a guitar riff and then ends up being slow, but heavy. I realized it’s a cover of Marshall Tucker Band’s "Can’t You See," again tying them to Southern rock. They’ve really changed this up, instead of just doing it like the original. I like it a lot.
The rest of the CD continues in the same vein, solid songs, riff driven 70s influenced rock. I suspect you’ve guessed by now that I really like this band. However, I will say that what they are doing is not ground breaking. Their style of music is not one that calls for a whole lot of variation. The songs hardly all sound the same, but they are based in a solid tradition that doesn’t allow for much variance in overall style. For those reasons, it’s hardly surprising that the three bonus tracks on the deluxe CD are every bit as good as the main 12 tracks. "Staring at the Mirror" starts with a banjo and goes in to a heavy, solid riff before opening up in to a classic rock song. "Fade Away" is another excellent ballad, and "Die for You" cranks up another classic riff to good effect.
These guys have been around for a while, and because of who their parents are, and how they formed, there’s been a bit of a mythology and some expectations that come out of that. With their third album, I feel like they are coming out of the shadow of their past and forging their own identity, still based on their obvious influences, but not overshadowed by them.
Thursday, June 23, 2011 at 12:01AM 
