The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 15/06/09
Aerosmith – Pink
Def Leppard – Pour Some Sugar On Me
The Doors – Love Me Two Times
Fleetwood Mac – Need Your Love So Bad
Steppnwolf – Born To Be Wild
Led Zeppelin – Good Times Bad Times
Focus – Hocus Pocus
Mott The Hoople – All The Young dudes
T-Rex – 20th Century Boy
Moonspell – Luna
Korn – Thoughtless
Billy Talent – River Below
Dead By April – Losing You
Korplikani – Vodka
Static-X – Black & White
Billy Boy On Poison – Bury Me
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go http://www.myspace.com/heavensbasementofficial
Slipknot – Before I Forget
Clutch – When Vegans Attack
Nixa – Clarity http://www.myspace.com/nixaspace
MiLLS – Hellow Mellow http://www.myspace.com/millsrocks
Zombina And The Skeletones – 0800-666
Kinn – Want Me Need Me http://www.myspace.com/kinn
As Worlds Collide – Hill Town http://www.myspace.com/asworldscollide
Great Imitation – Bitter Sweet Heart Attacks http://www.myspace.com/greatimitation
Age – Stars Resemble Nothing http://www.myspace.com/agemusicuk
Frank Zappa And Moon Unit – Valley Girl
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 08/06/09
Download Special
Aerosmith – Livin’ On The Edge
Led Zeppelin – Communication Breakdown
Kiss – I Wanna Rock & Roll All Night
The Police – Can’t Stand Losing You
Cheap Trick – I Want You To Want Me
Bob Marley – Three Little Birds
Journey – Don’t Stop Believing
ZZ Top – Gimme All Your Lovin’
Whitesnake – Here I Go Again
Faith No More – Epic
Motley Crüe – Dr. Feelgood
Def Leppard – Let’s Get Rocked
Skin – Money
Limp Bizkit – Take A Look Around
Static-X – Black & White
Killswitch Engage – My Last Serenade
Korn – Thoughtless
Lacuna Coil – Swamped
Billy Talent – River Below
Slipknot – The Blister Exists
Papa Roach – She Loves Me Not
Clutch – Mice And Gods
Meshuggah – Shed
Opeth – The Grand Conjuration
Black Stone Cherry – Lonely Train
God Forbid – The End Of The World
Trivium – Entrance Of The Conflagration
Fei Comodo – Behind Bars
In This Moment – Violent Skies
Shinedown – The Sound Of Madness
Therapy? – Screamager
People In Planes – Mayday (M’aidez)
Cannibal Corpse – Death Walk In Terror
Dream Theater – Rite Of Passage
On The Road With… TANK (Sweden Rock Festival – June 2009).
Thursday 4th.
I headed down to London, parked up at Joels in Maida Vale and tubed over to TotalRock towers to sit in with MattCryFire. After the show I had half an hour to get back before my parking ran out, but surprise surprise I ran into problems, my debit card decided to cancel itself and I was unable to top up my oyster. So, with ten minutes to spare, Malcolm lent me some funds, and I arrived at my car just as the traffic warden walked away from giving me a ticket, argh!!! So basically the money I made that night photographing, which I needed for Download, now pays off the parking ticket.
Managed to fit nearly all Of The I’s band equipment into the car, bar a couple of guitars, and made my way back central to Leicester Square, parked up in Soho Square, then back to TR to produce Anarchy On The Airwaves with Mad Maz, guesting Liberation Of Colour from Israel, via Austria. Ran back to Leicester Square, met with Emma and Maz Star, and watched/photographed a fantastic set from Of The I, good stuff!
Back to Pach‘s with all the gear and a random conversation/debate about pasta tasting different depending on the shape.
Friday 5th.
Over to some where near Heathrow for the meeting point. Mick’s, already there, Andy was picking up Cliff the Riff, Chris Dale and Doogie White. Slept in the van to Stansted and arrived in good time, just need the drummer! I bought a bottle of Dr.Pepper for £2, Mark Brabbs arrived, we checked in, then went to the metal detectors where they confiscated my brand new bottle of Dr.Pepper, because you’re only allowed 100ml!!! So why the hell do they sell it before the gates, you would have thought they’d tell you when you’re buying!
Long wait to board, got a row at the back of the plane to our selfs though. tried to sleep. Arrived at Coppenhagen, is a pretty massive airport with a lot of wood! Two Mini bus between us, one of the drivers looked a bit crazy, turned out she was, trying to read a map whilst driving! Thankfully I went in the other van, we drove over the big bridge connecting Denmark and Sweden, then I slept! We had about a 3 hour journey, and turns out out hotel if 45 minutes north of the festival, so we actually had to drive past it to get there. It was a site I’d not seen before, wedged between the coast and the road, people camped in the woods, locals gardens, roads filled with people. I didn’t see the point in going to the hotel, we should have just gone straight to the festival and catch some bands, rather then miss out 2 hours. The hotel was massive, actually had two parts to it, the walk to our room was in the second building, took about ten minutes to get there, I gest not! Nice though, no idea where we are! lol
Back to the festival starting in the backstage bar, met some random ladies, cuaght a bit of Motorhead, only cuz they were on but actually sounded alright, then wondered and saw Johnny Winter, fantastic blues rock! Back to the backstage bar with some popcorn and bumped back into the the random gals who are the editor and writter of Scandinavian Tattoo Magazine!
We arranged to leave at 11.30pm so I could catch some of In Flames, unfortunately they were running well too late and didn’t catch any of them at all! So back to the hotel for a quiet drink, Cliff got merry!
Saturday 6th.
E
arly start as we had to be there for 9am made a start on the rider and then started setting up the drums great weather this morning, compared to the rain of the rest of the week. Tank opened the Sweden Stage to a decent crowd for the beginning of the day which fantastically filled as they played!
Finished off the rider, went for a fantastic meal at the festival, reindeer tastes pretty good, like smoked ham!
Next off to a different hotel, 45 minutes south of the festival, so again 2 hours out f the day, but good for going to the airport in the morning. We got out of the minibus to autograph hunters and Vinny Appice of Heaven And Hell.
When we got back to the festival it was really cold and I didn’t have a coat. I did plan on seeing a few bands, but was just too cold, backstage bar didn’t even have heaters. spent most of the night talking to Pernilla and Tess from the magazine, and their family. Pernilla wants me to marry her oldest daughter, lol. Back to the hotel early, the after party was actually at a club in the hotel, but still 2 hours till that started, so off to bed!
Sweden Rock was really nice, such a relaxed atmosphear and not too overcrowded. A great spectrum of old rockers, young metallers and their kids in prams too! A shame that the hotels were so far out, I would have been happy to stay at one of the holiday chalets at the camp next door! And also a great variety of rock, from classic, blues, heavy, thrash, glam and probably every thing in between.
The most serreal thing was driving into sun rise at 11.30pm!
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 01/06/09
Sweden Rock Special
Aerosmith – Girls Of Summer
The Doors – Light My Fire
Red Hot Chili Peppers – Blood Sugar Sex Magic
Cream – Sunshine Of Your Love
Deep Purple – Smoke On The Water
The 5th Dimension – Aquarious/Let The Sunshine
Supergrass – Sun Hits The Sky
Fijid Pink – House Of The Rising Sun
Lamb Of God – Blacken The Cursed Sun
In Flames – Touch Of Red
ZZ Top – Gimme All Your Loving
Twisted Sister – I Wanna Rock
Journey – Don’t Stop Believin’
Dream Theater – A Rite Of Passage
Hammerfall – Secrets
Uriah Heap – Easy Livin’
Soilwork – Nerve
Amon Amarth – Cry Of The Blackbirds
Kamelot – March Of Mephisto
Deathstars – Blood Stains Blondes
Blaze Bailey – The Man Who Would Not Die
***Kory Clarke Interview
Queen – The Prophet’s Song
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 1/05/09
Aerosmith – Walk On Water
Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way
ZZ Top – GImme All Your Lovin’
Pink Floyd – Have A Cigar
Faith No More – Epic
Sepultura – Sepulnation
Nirvana – In Bloom
Heaven & Hell – Bible Black
Mastodon – Divinations
Tetrafusion – Gravity http://www.myspace.com/tetrafusion
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t Let Go http://www.myspace.com/heavensbasementofficial
Sanguine – Territory http://www.myspace.com/sanguineband
SikTh – Sanguine Sea’s Of Bigotry
Shinedown – Sound Of Madness
Opeth – The Grand Conjuration
Of The I – Single Units http://www.myspace.com/ofthei
Amon Armoth – Cry Of The Blackbirds
Satyricon – K.I.N.G
Deathstars – Blood Stains Blondes
Moonspell – Luna
In Flames – Delights And Angers
Chimaira – Secrets Of The Dead
Zealot – A Quiet Groan http://myspace.com/zealotrock
Stuka Squadron – We Drink Blood
We Rock Like Girls Don’t – Violence http://www.myspace.com/werocklikegirlsdont
Electrical Language – He Wants You for The Weekend http://www.myspace.com/theelectricallanguage
Eluveitie – Omnos
Arch Enemy – We Will Rise
Inner Rage – Disarray http://www.myspace.com/innerragemusic
Sanguine – Territory http://www.myspace.com/sanguineband
Deftones – The Chauffer (cover)
Beholder – Never Take Us Down http://www.myspace.com/beholderuk
Haken – Sleeping Thoughts Awake http://www.myspace.com/hakenmusic
Electrical Language
(formally The Up, Darren Jones Band)
2009 Demo
http://www.myspace.com/theelectricallanguage
Xander say’s…
Here lies a great act just waiting to be discovered! Still a fairly new band to the scene and needing a few more gigs under the belt to build some confidence, but getting to a great start with venues such as The Musician in Leicester.
Walking on stage, the three timid guys don’t strike you as a band, but when that first chord strikes and Darren starts singing, all pauses. The demo displays tones of Starsailor and James Morrison mixed with some country slides, whilst live I get more of a feel of Eric Clapton for the guitar. I like the composure of the tracks and it would definitely be great to see these guys work with a good producer for a more advanced recording in the future. The band has the sound for a live performance, especially with Darrens striking voice, so some summer gigs and festivals will give them the boost to fill the stage to their potential.
Demo – ★★★✩✩ | Live – ★★★✩✩✩
Tina say’s…
I think the best way to describe the sound of Electrical Language is “easy like Sunday morning”. Their songs are catchy, mellow and pleasing. The band’s demo perfectly captures what they have to offer as a country/indie/rock group and bears similarities to the likes of Pete Yorn, Ryan Adams and Andrew Bird. Darren’s vocals are quite simply delicious and it is an overall very easy to listen to CD.
Though their live shows lack a sense of captivating entertainment, Electrical Language could most definitely provide the perfect summer soundtrack to those long warm evenings sitting in a field having a cheeky cider.
Demo – ★★★★✩ | Live – ★★★✩✩
Sanguine
Live Consume Drive [EP], April 2009
After a string of raging performances and stunning reviews, Sanguine quickly developed a reputation for energetic and intimidating live shows. This impact was not just restricted to audiences; other bands were left stunned that a female fronted act could carve something new into the alternative rock and metal scene. On two occasions the headlining bands refused to follow Sanguine’s show.
Xander says…
I first discovered the band on TotalRock radio and instantly became almost like a crazed Back Street Boys fan, is there anything else like Sanguine? Well, maybe, but I haven’t heard it so no! Technically I heard the name Sanguine due to a scheduled support slot with Sad Season, featuring Mikee of SikTh, though due to a naff PC at the time, I didn’t bother having a look. Big mistake! Sanguine quickly became my obsession of 2008 and I managed to bag a show in January 09 at The Gaff (London). I tried not to get my hopes up, not because I thought they would disappoint, just cuz that’s what I do, either you don’t get disappointed or you have a better time. But that failed and I couldn’t wait, luckily they do kick ass live too.
Now onto the review! Sure I am biased as I love the band, but obviously I wouldn’t like them if they weren’t good! The title track, Live Consume Drive, kicks straight in, no messing about. The guitars sound fantastically chuggy it makes me indulge with my bass, not that i can play, but the riffs are that tasty and inviting I feel the need vent the energy created. The drumming is what I like to call ‘a good frame’. If you compare music to a bed, the frame holds it all together, and a good one doesn’t squeak when you rock it, a solid rhythm and effective composure. This leaves me left with the vocals and I don’t think I can give Tarin justice. If you ever needed proof demons were angels, here it is! Sure woman can scream/growl, but there’s something more than the average scream here. This is then accompanied by angelic vocals to amazement of not only the ranges achieved but the ability to switch between the two styles so flippantly. I am in absolute ore of the vocals especially in tracks such as Simplify and Territory, the tracks have great energy and emotion, which is a great achievement to capture on record, and as a bonus, if buy buy the physical copy of this EP, you also get a DVD, which includes the video for the title track, written and created by the band themselves. I’m really impressed with the quality, it looks fantastic, especially for a home made video! kudos where due! nothing else i can say but…
★★★★★
Tina says…
I remember when Nik first sent me a link to the Sanguine myspace page and I was pretty impressed by what I heard.
The title track of Sanguine’s EP, Live Consume Drive opens with a thrashy burst of screaming vocals and guitar. Immediately you are drawn into the sheer energy of this band (an energy that doesn’t falter at all across the 3 tracks on offer) and it’s easy to see why they are quickly gaining critical acclaim within the metal scene. This EP provides a slick mix of thrashy guitars, hard-hitting, tight drum-beats and stunning vocals. Tarin’s ability to fluctuate seamlessly between screaming and singing in somewhat sultry tones is, to say the least, impressive! And to add to her vocal talents she’s also a very foxy lady!
For me, Sanguine are definitely one to look out for live.
★★★★★
Great Imitation
An Imitation Party [EP]
May 2009
If Nostradamus had been in possession of just a little foresight, he’d have used his predictive capabilities properly; instead of prophecising all that apocalyptic, doom laden hoopla, he would have focused his talent for divination on the world of lite-entertainment; specifically the pop-charts & had that been the case, then it’s an incontrivertble possibility that ‘Les Prophecies’ might have featured a chapter called Great Imitation.
Xander say’s…
My first exposure to the Great Imitation (will now be referred to as GI) was supporting my own band, Badaxe, earlier this year. The two piece brought down their CD which was played earlier on in the night, and I truly did not understand why they were billed. Acoustic rap from a tubby guy and Joe90?! Well the second GI step on the stage, it is instantly filled with presence and an aura truly magical and rare. The onstage antics and sweat is probably the main attraction to GI rather than the music, but this does go hand in hand for the band. They instantly trap you, allowing the lyrical content to grip you, and if it doesn’t, front vocalist, James, certainly will grip you, literally!
Standing behind a mic stand will only be a sight for guitarist, Ryan, as James has more than stage presence, his crowd interaction, dare I say it, would be a challenge for even Freddy Mercury to match. GI gigs are dubbed ‘parties’ and the atmosphere certainly confirms this. Most songs will either have you singing along or clapping along, either way you’ll definitely be dancing along!
The band have barely been in existence a year and a big buzz is really snowballing for them. To add to this GI now sport a full band. Initially I was a little dubious as I quite liked the act acoustically, this uncertainty instantly flew out the window upon their first performance as a four piece. I was stunned, which is outstanding for a band that already amazes! The sound feel so full with a solid rhythm from all.
The first EP from the band is a great effort to start with, though recorded before the addition of band members, so the next EP will certainly be a release to look forward to. I especially like the timbre of Ryan’s voice, the vocals from both have been recorded well and, providing there is a good sound system, live they will have you smiling muchly. Track’s to look out for live ‘real Men Hit Things’ and recorded ‘Stay Gold Ponyboy’.
EP – ★★★✩✩ | Live – ★★★★★
Tina say’s…
I cast my mind back to last December. A new two-piece band appeared on the stage at my local. A guy I went to school with weilding an acoustic guitar and a slightly camp Russell Brand/Noel Fielding-esque frontman. I don’t think anyone could have predicted what the next thirty minutes or so would entail. By the end of their set I had laughed so much I cried and I actually had goosebumps. And so began my obession with Great Imitation.
Since then I have seen them countless times and have never been disappointed with their performance. More recently they have increased from a two to a four-piece band (adding a drummer and bassist into the mix). Every single performance is awash with sheer energy, comedy, enthusiasm and sweat(!) as the band go from strength to strength.
‘An Imitation Party’ is a fantastic debut EP, perfectly illustrating what the band are about and it brilliantly illuminates the outstanding potential of Great Imitation. James’ intelligent word-smithery is perfectly complimented by Ryan’s memorable, choral melodies.
‘Poisoned Kisses at the Village Fete’ is a fantastic foot-tapping, head-bopping opening track that is guaranteed to have you singing along. ‘If Carpet Man Don’t Dance, Carpet Man Don’t Eat’ (aka ‘Incompetent Earth, Wind and Fire covers band with Bernard Manning on Vocal’s for those familiar with the band’s live shows) is my personal favourite. From the very first time I heard it I just fell in love with the chorus. ‘Crutches’ introduces us to a spell-binding melancholy sound that is nonetheless just as captivating. No Great Imitation CD would be complete without the anthemic ‘Stay Gold Ponyboy’ which is very much a firm favourite amongst fans. ‘Real Men Hit Things’ is a spine-tingling display of a more serious side to the band as they explore the dark subject of domestic violence. Finally ‘Wage Slaves of the World Unite’ is a taste of real life that I think we can all relate to!
From the beginning, I’ve always been a huge Great Imitation fan. A band that are difficult to define, they can’t really be boxed into a genre. Listening to their CD and seeing them live are two completely different experiences and I heartily recommend that you do both!
EP – ★★★★★ | Live – ★★★★★
ELUVEITIE – ‘OMNOS’ [Single]
17th April 2009
Nuclear Blast
“New wave of folk metal” claims the bands MySpace. If you head there now you can hear the music truly is folk metal, sounds great, such as the first track, ‘Blood Stained ground’ and ‘Grey Sublime Archon’, but the first release from the new album, ‘Omnos’, is unlike the other material, as this is from the new acoustic concept album.
It’s a good poppy track with a catchy chorus, but I far more prefer the ‘folk Metal’ material. Not simply because it is metal, I’m not that narrow minded, I feel the riff’s and structuring more pleasing, and are complimented well with the folk instruments such as pipes, fiddles and a hurdygurdy! But I do believe experimentation and change is a good thing and for a band to feel comfortable to branch out in new ways is admirable. Diversity is a great tool, I’d certainly try catch this band live!” ★★★✩✩
IN FLAMES – ‘DELIGHT AND ANGERS’ [Single]
1sr April 2008
Nuclear Blast
“With In Flames it is safe to say you know what you’re going to get, unlike other bands though, they still manage to sound fresh and non repetitive. The formula the band uses works very well, and they obviously have their heads on straight, as unlike many many other instances, they don’t try to fix something when it ain’t broke! But this also makes reviewing hard! You know what they sound like, they still sound great, so what do I do? Sit back and mosh in my swivel chair and urge you to join me!” ★★★★✩
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 20/04/09
Aerosmith – Otherside
The Stranglers – Peaches
Presidents Of The united States Of America – Peaches
Faith No More – The Real Thing
Gold Finger – 99 Red Balloons
The Police – Every Little Thing She Does Is Magic
The Darkness – Growing On Me
Reel Big Fish – Take On Me
Kid Klumsy – Sugar Junkies http://www.myspace.com/kidklumsy
Joe Walsh – Rocky Mountain Way
Linkin Park – A Place For My Head
Pink Floyd – Have A Cigar
Sepultura – Ludwig Van
Eluveitie – Omnus *NEW*
Zombina And The Skeletones – Dracula Blood *NEW*
Chimaira – Secrets Of The Dead *NEW*
In Flames – Delight And Angers *NEW*
Zombina And The Skeletones – Puke It Up *NEW*
Kinn – Want Me, Need Me *NEW* http://www.myspace.com/kinn
Zealot – A Quiet Groan *NEW* http://www.myspace.com/zealotrocks
Parlor Mob – Hard Times
We Rock Like Girls Don’t – Violence *NEW* http://www.myspace.com/werocklikegrisldont
Billy Talent – Fallen Leaves
Stucka Squadron – We Drink Blood http://www.myspace.com/stukageschwader666
Mnemic – Door 2.12
Deathstars – Blood Stains Blonde *NEW*
Age – Battery http://www.myspace.com/agemusicuk
Always April – Variations http://www.myspace.com/always aprilmusic
A Dozen Furies – The everlasting Grudge
Superreal – Givin’ It in
Heaven’s Basement – Can’t let Go *NEW*
Pink Strip – Matishie http://www.myspace.com/pinkstripper
cKy – Hellions On Parade *NEW*
Backyard Babies – Minus Celcius
Bachman-Turner Overdrive – You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet
Didium And The Black Bonnie Picture – Tell Me, Tell Me http://www.myspace.com/didiumnet
Great Imitation – We All Stay Gold http://www.myspace.com/greatimitation
Amorphis – Silver Bride *NEW*
Inner Rage – Sinstro II http://www.myspace.com/innerragemusic
Jacky Heretic – We Wreck All That Is Beautiful
Papa Roach – Hollywood Whore
Satyricon – K.I.N.G
Mastodon – The Last Baron *NEW*
CHIMAIRA – THE INFECTION
24th April 2009
Nuclear Blast
‘Secrets Of The Dead’ is a great introduction to the new album, ‘The Infection’. A disturbing and satisfying tone is set on this track and sucks you in to hear the full length of the single. The album can be heard in full on the bands MySpace so you can try before you buy.
This album is pure, brutal, metal! The Infection also features instrumental track, The Heart Of It All, after the success of Implements Of Destruction from 2004’s The Impossibility Of Reason, though this is not on the MySpace, so you’ll have to buy the album! ★★★✩✩
Interview with Kory Clarke (Warrior Soul) – The Victoria, Coalville, 09/04/09
Xander: I’m here at the Victoria in Coalville with Kory Clark, welcome!
Kory: Ahh, thank you
X: So you’ve been here before, whats brought you back?
Kory: Well it was really cold that time we played so I want to come back, everyone’s really cool here so i thought it would be a good thing to do to come back here and get here when the weathers maybe a little bit better and enjoy some of the bikers that hang around.
X: Tonight we’re going to witness many sides to your performances such as drumming, singing, spoken word readings and leaving question unanswered, excited to be expressing yourself in such different ways?
Kory: I love it. when I’m not on the road with bands its good, I like to go out and do my own thing cause it gives me the chance to do some things that are little more stretched out, you know. People will be expecting a traditional set up so it’s going to go a little bit more out the box.
X: To be bit abstract about it
Kory: Umm, not more creative just a little more leeway to go out of the box a little bit.
X: It’s just been announced of your signing toTranscend records, did they approach you?
Kory: Yes, well, I don’t remember how it all came about, you know, we’ve been in negotiations for a few months
X: You’re looking forward to being part of the family?
Kory: I’d like to just have a nice label thats going to do promotions and legwork and all the things that need to be done to make work so happy right now
X: You’ve also worked with Paul Raven in Mob Research and the album ‘Only To Be’ released this May, tell us about your time in Raven?
Kory: Well the song ‘This One Is For You’ kinda spells it all out. I met Raven years ago actually, probably open for Killing Joke in Detroit maybe in about 1982, something like that, but I really saw him when he was living in Los Angeles, I was there till 2000/2001. I think I met him in 1999/ 2000 when he came over with some puppies that he had just breed actually, pitbulls. We sang around, then it must of been six years later I was walking over to the bar known as The Street in Brooklyn and I looked inside and there he was sitting at the end of the bar, it was like 3 in the afternoon, it was really hot out, I said ‘Hey, what you doing here?’ then he goes ‘What you doing here?’. So we sat down and talked for a while and laughed and exchanged numbers. I went home and he called me two days later and he was like ‘hey, you know we don’t have a vocalist for this project I’m doing and it’s 13th planet working with Ministry, working with the guy from Emission And Tricky, Peter Murphy and Mark Therese’, I was like, well this sounds really interesting! I didn’t know Mark at the time but got to know him over the fall and we just started to put it all together, that song was the way it all went down. Thats how it really started and thats how it happened. They used to come over to the house, it was really cool man, I mean it was like having pirates over every day in the summer!
X: Ah that nicely leads onto my next question! What’s Pirates Of The Baltic Sea all about?
Kory: I don’t know, calm! (laughs) Hey man, seriously that was a fun project actually. I just a jumped off the trouble too, I literally just jumped off the plane in between the flight and they didn’t now where I was I just said ‘Fuck it’, I just took off and just ran into Helesinki, this guy Johnny picked me up on his motorcycle and the next thing you know i was in the bar. it was really kick ass.
X: What bar was that?
Kory: I can’t remember that. They said here is where you’re going to have dinner, they introduced me to the owner, I said ‘You got this?’, oh anything you want man just ask, ok. Then they go, took me to the bar ‘whatever you want man’, so cool. Was really nice man, they were really kind.
X: They do treat you really different in Europe, don’t they!
Kory:Yeah, they were really nice. Well, no, it’s not everywhere that people are just shitty people. Theres, some places really great you know, people you do get taken care of. But we’re even worse in the States.
X: In February you missed the Hellfire Festival. Whats the story with that?
Kory: I didn’t have a permit to play and I thought because i wasn’t getting paid it would be alright but they said no, the law had changed so they sent me back to Athens which sucked!
X: I’ve been tipped off to ask you about your first tour in Athens actually!
Kory: It was awesome man, probably the best worst show ever. Like 2 months before a 15 year old kid got killed by the police about 2 blocks away from the venue . We came in and sold out, from the front of stage to the back, just absolutely packed with rockers. And when I went in with ‘We Are The Government’ there were fists all the way from the front to the back, never seen it like that before. Now usually you get just the first five rows who are just pumping and the rest looking timidly at you. This isn’t, life’s just pumping man and they’ve took us out to all these after hours bars. I got in half hour before I had to go to the airport!
X: You’re playing London tomorrow at The Gaff, been there before?
Kory: No, i’m looking forward to it, heard its a really nice venue. I’m just going to get in there and get bad ass!
X: Now I have a pop quiz for you!
Kory: Fire away
X: Can girlfriends and boyfriends still be friends when they split up?
Kory: Well, I try to stay friends with everybody you now but as off right now I don’t know, but I try too.
X: When was the last time you got into a fight?
Kory: Not that long ago
X: Oh?
Kory: Probably on Dirty Rig Tour
X: Jägermeister or Jack Daniels?
Kory: Uhhh, it depends. I think after having a few beers i would do Jägermeister. I like Jack with a mix, ginger. Jack and ginger!
X: If you could be any woman for a day who would you be?
Kory: The Queen
(laughs)
X: Wwhy’s that?
Kory: Cause I’d like to get laid by good looking dudes I guess!
X: If you could have one superpower what would it be?
Kory:One superpower? Well lets see, who do I like the most. I don’t know, maybe Swedens pretty cool.
X: Oh no, superheros superpowers!
Kory: Oh, I thought as you meant in which country you would want to rule the world! Umm, I don’t know.
X: And the last question is whats is your favourite cheesecake?
Kory: Ah, my favourite cheesecake is New York
On The Road With… WE ROCK LIKE GIRL’S DON’T (Germany – March, 2009).
My journey started on Wednesday 25th making my way to London to pick up the van from Holloway Road, amazingly the whole journey took 1h55m! The van is very reasonably priced, so if you’re in a band check it out…http://www.besthire.co.uk/
Met Vas (drummer) and followed her back to Enfield and then made my way back into the city, which took a bloody age! I was gonna do some pottering at TotalRock but arrived there at the time I should have been interviewing at the O2 Islington Academy! So rushing around in the lovely weather wearing a leather jacket, I smelt great! Whilst on the tube some one decided to pull the emergency switch which delayed me another 10 minutes, why do I have such bad luck in London?!! lol
It turned out not to be a problem being late, luckily, as tere had been all sorts of problems. First off I interviewed Alex Skolnick of Testament, if you read his blogs, then you’ll know it is typical to find him at his laptop, which he was! Next I interviewed Jamie of Sylosis in the stairwell up to the stage! Worried how that one turned out, hopefully can get all these interviews edited soon, and you’ll be able to find out what their favourite cheesecakes are!!
Back to TotalRock towers to briefly say hi and finally met The Bat, then across to the Crow Bar to meet Cliff The Riff, guitarist from Tank, to discuss drum teching in the summer, alls looking good! Originally as I had to get back to Enfiled I was only going to watch Sylosis as I’ve not seen them yet, and I saw Testament earlier in the year, but then I found out that testament would only be performing their first two albums, like I’m gonna miss that!! Redd had problems getting in so I was considering giving her my pass, but thankfully she finaly got one, glad I saw it, it’s one of those special gigs that go down in history I think. Oddly, at the interview, I was recognised by a documentor?! Gues I’m more modest than most rock stars! haha. Typically my journey home was a disaster argh!!
Thursday 26th – Köln, Germany
We set off mid morning to the Euro Tunnel, a first for us all. Our terminal is very basic and old looking, typical I think for the English to underwhelm at something that could be a pillar to show off! Once on the train, it is so smooth, you don’t even realise it has started moving, must be a French train, we couldn’t be that effecient! Our route today takes us through France, Belgium, Netherlands and then Germany. 90% of the roads were fine, but that 10% in the ring road around Brussels, what should have been 20 minutes took 1h30m!! The filters in Europe are different to the UK, a whole two lane motorway will suddenly merge into the inside lane of another motorway, so traffic jams are easy, but this was hurrendous! We thoguht it must be a bad accident, many police had gone by, then some police diggers zoomed by (emergency road works?) then 17 riot vans zoomed by!! no idea what happened. I settled well into driving on the wrong side of the road, round abouts were fine too, the only problems I had were the sharp breaks and hand brake being a pedal! We didn’t have a SatNav so we had to follow printed instructions, this wasn’t too bad, the only problem was Vas’ problem of thnking we’ve missed a turn so telling me to turn early! We got to the Sonic Ballroom and as soon as we walked in, we were hit with a must of smoke, we forgot there’s no smoking ban!
The venue is much like many venues in the UK, black, band stickers and posters everywhere, small capacity, nice and intimate. The flat above had loads of bunks and we were cooked a lovely soup!
A Pilsner we drank, Früh, which is a Kölsch, is much like pork pies, it has to be brewed in that region. The only other band of the night and the tour were great! really quirky, Zealot, go check!!
Friday 27th – Den Helder, Netherlands
A quick trip into the city to see the Cathedral, very gothic! We also saw and ancient building, that had either fallen down over time or bombed. This building had been preserved by incorporating its remaining structure into a modern building, without destroying it, actually usuing it, veyr well done! Next off to the Netherlands. Today I discovered that Holland is not a country, Dutch people live in the Netherlands, North and South Holland are province! The drive should have only been 3-4 hours, but again massive traffic! Was nice driving throgh the country though, really flat, funnily enough! Den Helder is in the far NW corner of the North Holland in the NW of Netherland! It was interesting walking up hill to the sea! The venue, Blitsem, is a nice bar, thin and long.
The logo is in the KISS style, and they have a local liquer, that isnt Jager, but tastes just like it! The accomadation, well, VERY… interesting! Lovely Risotto though!
Saturday 28th – Frieburg, Germany
Well like most mornings, it rained when we started driving, but boy did it perk up, showing off the German landscap so well. Were heading for the Black Forest, an eight hour drive!! No traffic at all today and a good drive, until we hit the city, I think we drove around for at least an hour trying to find the venue, in the end we had to hire a taxi to follow to the road, even he didn’t know where the venue is! The club, The Great Rang Teng Teng, is in the basement under some shops. The centre of the city is cobled and still medevil looking. The ancient parts underneath the city are preserved by being used or protected by another wall. We went for dinner in a market next door. It was fantastic, loads of food stalls and a bar, with a communal eating area in the middle and music being played. It was open late as part of a monthly late opening day in the city.
The club was rammed tonight and got very hot! After struggling to load up the van through the crowd, we dropped off at the hotel and went to the promotors bar around the corner.
Sunday 29th – Shimitz, Germany
We had a great brunch at the hotel, which aparently it is well known in the area for, including Black Forest Gateau, drewl!
Today about a six hour drive to Eastern Germany, had a great drive on the Autoban A9. You’d expect with an unresreticted speed there would be this great big huge straight road, nope, 2 lanes, rough patchy surface and a fair few drivers stick to 130k, it’s mainly the business men in estates that tend to go fast, and me! The law has also chagned to give way to traffic on the right, this is done to slow traffic down, this also causes a lot of accidents as cars just pull out on you to over take! Doesn’t matter what speed you’re going, if theres a gap the size of a car they’ll pull out and usually without warning. Over here we usually keep a good distance just at our speeds, over there, even at 80mph youre only a few feet away from the car in front whilst you wait for them to pull in. Saying this though, we only saw one accident in 5 days worth of driving there, in the eight hours driving from home to Dover and back, I saw two! Also the junctions there are very different, in terms of slowing traffic down I think they’re good, but, say if you miss your exit and want to go back, you can’t as theres not roundabouts! Anyway, really fun driving on the A9, 3 lanes curving around the hillside with not much traffic. Great veiws too, there is a lot of wind farms in Europe, I ony saw one power station and that only had one chimney!
My view of Germany totally changed once we hit the city. Sundays are quiet in France and Germany as everything closes, the outskirts had traffic but the area around Subway To Peter was dead! With such big buildings, soviet in style, either run down or gaps where there were buildings, and maybe only 50% of them rejuvenated, we had a small taste and hit of reality what the area was like under the iron curtain. We had an ace pizza, no idea what it was! haha. We set up and went to the apartment.
When walking back, eveyr where was dead. Virtually city centre and not even th sound of A car, no one walking, we thought the gig would be dead. When we opened the club door, silence. We walked down the stairs, opened the massive door, music booming out and a bunker full of smoke and atmoshear, not so dead after all then! Like the rest of the gigs, plenty of merch was bought.
Monday 30th
Longest drive ever today, we left at 10am, we didn’t get back into London till 9.30pm!!! The first leg in Germany was the first bit I didn’t drive, when I took over, thinking we were near the German border, we were only just back over to Köln! but the weather was fantastic, virtually clear blue skies right up till the Channel Tunnel.
Greated home with a lovely chicken, egg and lemon soup!
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 23/09/09
Aerosmith – Chip Away The Stone
Led Zeppelin – Good Times Bad Times
Queen – Fat Bottomed Girls
Mott The Hoople – All The Young Dudes
Lynyrd Skynyrd – Sweet Home Alabama
Iron Maiden – Run To The Hills
Queens Of The Stone Age – Someone’s In The Wolf
SikTh – In This Light
Mastodon – Capillarian Crest
Age – Stars Resemble Nothing http://www.myspace.com/agemusicuk
You And Me At Six – Jealous Minds Think Alike
Billy Talent – Fallen Leaves
Electric Six – Gay Bar
Arch Enemy – Exsist To Exit
Inner Rage – Disarray http://www.myspace.com/innerragemusic
Wolfmother – Woman
Tool – Parabola
Breed77 – La Ultima Hore
Kid Klumsy – Bum Love http://www.myspace.com/kidklumsy
Machine Head – Halo
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 16/03/09
Aerosmith – Walk On Down
Kyuss – El Rodeo
Faith No More – War Pigs
Blue Oyster Cult – (Don’t Fear) The Reaper
Pantera – Cowboys From Hell
Cream – Mother’s Lament
Fleetwood Mac – Black Magic Woman
The Red Hot Chili Peppers – Walkin On Down The Road
God Forbid – End Of the World
Ted Nugent – Strangelhold
Fei Comodo – Behind Bars
Mañana – Desaparacidos
Jacky Heretic – We Wreck All That Is Beautiful
Untitled 731 – Untitled 2
Bal-Sagoth – The Hammer Of The Emperor
Lamb Of God – Break You
Lamb Of God – O.D.H.G.A.B.F.E.
Age – Stars Reemble Nothing
Soulfly – Blood Fire War
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 09/03/09
ELO – Mr Blue Sky
Iron Maiden – Wasted Years
Aerosmith – Kings And Queens
Alice In Chains – Them Bones
Anthrax – Safe Home
Rocket From A Crypt – On A Rope
Lit – Everything’s Cool
Whitesnake – Here I Go Again
Def Leopard – Lets Get Rocked
Thin Lizzy – The Rocker
Megadeth – Sleepwalker
Refused – New Noise
Soulfly – Blood Fire War
Jacky Heretic – We Wreck All That Is Beautifull http://www.myspace.com/jackyheretic
Will Haven – Helena
Lamb Of God – Ruin
A Dozen Furies – The Everlasting Grudge
The Parlour Mob – Hard Times
Audioslave – Last Remaining Light
Always April – Variations http://www.myspace.com/alwaysaprilmusic
Kenesis – Everything Destroys Itself
Mnemic – Door 2.12
Lamb Of God – Beating On Deaths Door
Eighteen Visions – Tower Of Snakes
Inner Rage – Disarray http://www.myspace.com/innerragemusic
+44 – Heart Stops Beating
Satyricon – K.I.N.G.
Solefald – Survival Of The Outlaw
The Offspring – Want You Bad
Cyclamen – Sleep Street http://www.myspace.com/thiscyclamen
The Mars Volta – L’via L’viaquez
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 18/01/09
Rock Chix Special
Volunteers – Jefferson Airplane
I Love Rock N’ Roll – Joan Jett & The Blackhearts
Drop The Pilot – Joan Armatrading
Dear Prudence – Siouxsie And The Bandshees
Walk Like An Egyptian – The Bangles
Little Lies – Fleetwood Mac
Zombie – The Cranberries
Connection – Elastica
Spiderwebs – No Doubt
I Love Reggae – Dirty Revolution
Charlie Big Potato – Skunk Anansie
Followed The Waves – Auf Der Maur
Matishie – Pink Strip
Skittles – The Almaboobies
Bring It On – The Smears
I Wish I Had An Angel – Nightwish
The Howling – Nightwish
Half Jack – The Dresden Dolls
The Hunger – The Distillers
You Will You Won’t – The Zutons
Swamped – Lacona Coil
Mr Safe – Brit Chix
Miss Take – Horror Pops
Charlotte – Kittie
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 12/01/09
SPiT LiKE THiS – Young, Dumb & Full Of Fun
Stuka Squadron – Stuka Squadron
Age – Battery
The Smears – Deliverance
Phobia – It’s all About The Hate
Imperial Vipers – Check This
Thnderbird 13 – Filth
F.A.T.E – Battlefield
Gift Wrapped Fist – Tacoma Downpour
OutCryFire – Slaves
Messini Assault – Parallels
Pink Strip – Matishe
Brit Chix – Mr Safe
Dirty Revolution – Police
The Almaboobies – Leader Of My Own Nation
Gorman – Faith
Didium & The Black Bonnie Picture
Great Imitation – Stay Gold Ponyboy
Nixa – 1
Haken – Sleeping Thoughts Wake
Kid Klumsy – Sugar Junkies
Lamb Of God – Ashes Of The Wake
The Launch Pad – NWL Radio, 05/01/09
Guitar Hero Special
Paint It Black – Rolling Stones
Sunshine Of Your Love – Cream
Paranoid – Black Sabbath
Mississippi Queen – Mountain
Black Magic Woman – Santana
Same Old Song And Dance – Aerosmith
Slow Ride – Foghat
I Wanna Rock And Roll All Night (And Party every Day) [Live] – Kiss
Barracuda – Heart
Holiday In Cambodia – Dead Kennedys
The Number Of The Beast – Iron Maiden
Rock You Like a hurricane – Scorpions
One – Metallica
Suck My Kiss – Red Hot Chili Peppers
Even Flow – Pearljam
Cherub Rock – Smashing Pumpkins
Bulls On Parade – Rage against The Machine
Before I forget – Slipknot
Helicopter – Bloc Party
Hier Kommt Alex – Die Toten Hosen
Through The Fire And Flames – Dragonforce
Take This Life – Inflames
Knights Of Cydonia – Muse
The Metal – Tenacious D
My Curse – Killswitch Engage
THE JOLLY ROCK FEST
The Jolly Colliers, Thornborough, Coalville, Leicestershire
Saturday 9th August 2008
Radial Uproar, Messini Assault, Propshaft, The Waits, K.M.A., Kid Klumsy, Insufficient Funds, The Swifteys, Badaxe.
I was asked to join the team (Fiona – Jolly Colliers & Dave – Radial Uproar) to assist with the all dayer. I booked the bands and booked Nicky Boy for sound and assisted him. I played with my bands Badaxe and Kid Klumsy and also filled in for Insufficient Funds. Although it rained for a couple of hours the attendance was great and the large beer garden hosted a great party.
Interview with K.M.A. @ Jolly Rock Fest, Thornborough – 08/09/08
This was my first ever attempt at an interview, for NWL Radio. Fuelled by Jäger with both parties, it became more of a test to see who could swear the most instead of not at all.
The recording of this interview has been lost.
Yellowxander 