Category: Music
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Riding Fairly High in the Saddle Again
Aerosmith & Yungblud – One More Time3.5 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa After being forced into retirement from touring two years ago due to a severe vocal injury sustained by singer Steven Tyler, and with a complete lack of new music since 2012, Aerosmith, as a band and brand, save for through the…
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From Malachai to Music, Courtney ‘Gains’ an Appreciation Among Fans
By Joe Puccio Best known for his chilling turn as Malachai in 1984’s supernatural slasher hit Children of the Corn, it may be slightly surprising to some that Courtney Gains has carved out quite an eclectic career for himself since appearing in the seminal shocker. A variety of parts in non-genre fare ranging from science fiction…
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Through the Dark Corners of His Father’s House
Springsteen: Deliver Me from Nowhere3.5 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa Few would argue that Bruce Springsteen isn’t one of the most important and influential musical artists of the past fifty years. Having been such a seismic cultural force is usually reason enough to merit a great biopic that explains how such status was…
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Beginning Anew Through ‘The End’
Mammoth – The End4 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa After storming onto the rock scene a mere four years ago – and less than a full year since the death of his legendary father Edward Van Halen – Wolfgang Van Halen, under his artist moniker Mammoth (initially Mammoth WVH), returns with The End,…
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From Dupree to Executive, Shulman is a ‘Giant’
By Joe Puccio Rock and Roll has obviously had an abundance of both talented artists as well as pioneering record executives, separately, throughout its vast history. What’s not as common, however, is the number of individuals who excelled at both. “I never expected to work behind the scenes. When I got the call from a…
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For Maximum Impact
David Gilmour Live at the Circus Maximus, Rome3.5 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa With almost universal consensus amid rock enthusiasts and connoisseurs, over the past 50 years, David Gilmour has been considered one of the absolute premiere guitarists of the genre. Watching this latest concert film, David Gilmour Live at the Circus Maximus,…
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Stonehenge, Guitars, and Lots of Cheese
Spinal Tap II: The End Continues4 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa “We want Tap! We want Tap!” So chants a mob of thousands packed into a New Orleans arena, moments after one of those many has passionately professed on camera that Spinal Tap is up there with AC/DC and Motörhead as one of…
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Not Taking S#@! from Anyone
Billy Joel: And So It Goes4 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa With a strong, inventive, and always-engaging telling, Billy Joel: And So It Goes is unquestionably the definitive account of the life and career of the ever-popular piano man and musical prodigy from Long Island. But you will need four and a half hours…
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Lost-and-Found in Epic Size
Bruce Springsteen – Tracks II: The Lost Albums By J.C. Correa Leave it to Bruce Springsteen to swiftly rectify that the 1990s never really were the lost period that many of his fans have chosen to believe for years. Through the recent release of the almost comically-titled box set Tracks II: The Lost Albums, the…
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Unloading it All
Metallica – Load (Remastered) Deluxe Box Set By J.C. Correa How much Metallica is too much Metallica? The legendary heavy metal outfit has made it a point to possibly provide that answer with the recent release of the gargantuan box set that serves to commemorate, of all things, their contentious 1996 LP Load. With over 240…
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Friday the 13th’s ‘First Jason’ is First Class
By Joe Puccio Michael Myers. Freddy Krueger. Pinhead. Chucky. Ghostface. All are certainly seminal figures in the horror subgenre of the slasher film. But while each one has undoubtedly left his bloody mark on both viewers, as well as his respective victims (Laurie Strode, Nancy Thompson, Kirsty Cotton, Andy Barclay, and Sidney Prescott, to name…
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Wang Chung Still Clearly Having ‘Fun’
By Joe Puccio Creating hit songs that resonate with the public is obviously a distinct goal of every working musician. Crafting melodies so memorable that they stand the test of time or constructing catchy choruses that become permanently instilled in the listeners’ psyche are traits that every working auditory artist hopes to achieve even once…
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Summertime Blues
The Beach Boys3 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa With the recent death of Brian Wilson representing such a monumental loss in pop culture, and more specifically, in its history, a renewed interest in The Beach Boys can only be expected. For those seeking to satiate that appetite, they may consider giving a look…
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Guns N’ Roses Returns to the ‘Jungle’ in Barcelona
By J.C. Correa Inconceivable as it may seem, since 2016, Guns N’ Roses have toured the world repeatedly with a level of frequency and consistency, and with enough professionalism, to rival any act in music. The legendary band, which partially built said legend on a reputation of constant tardiness and unreliability, in its early ‘90s…
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An Operatic Tale of Rock ‘n’ Roll
Bono: Stories of Surrender4 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa Bono, the lead singer of U2, and one of the world’s most prominent activists of the past 25 years, is a polarizing individual. I guess that’s what happens when you front a band whose earnest approach to themes of love, spirituality, injustice, and redemption…
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The Expansive Sounds of History
Pink Floyd at Pompeii – MCMLXXII4 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa It takes approximately a full three minutes (possibly more) for the camera lens to absorb the deserted vastness of the ancient Roman amphitheater in Pompeii before slowly settling on the four members of Pink Floyd as they leisurely run through their 1971…
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Fifty Years After Their Heroes, Lez Zeppelin Brings it on Home
By J.C. Correa In May of 1975, the mighty Led Zeppelin finished a tour for their hallowed Physical Graffiti double album at London’s Earl’s Court. That whole cycle represented a victory lap of sorts for a band that was then at the peak of its powers and fame. Five shows were performed there, each lasting a…
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‘More Than a Feeling’ – DeCarlo and Scheff are ‘Stronger Every Day’
By Joe Puccio There is certainly not a dearth of veteran musicians pounding the pavement, attempting to capture -or recapture – the glory of days gone by. Whether it’s the Rolling Stones, in the midst of their inconceivable seventh decade of performing, Frankie Valli, perhaps the oldest artist, at 90, still active, or the Beach…
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From ‘The Karate Kid’ to ‘Flashdance,’ Esposito is Still One of the ‘Best’
By Joe Puccio Flashdance. Scarface. Coming to America. Staying Alive. American Hot Wax. These are just a smattering of the motion picture soundtracks that singer-songwriter Joe “Bean” Esposito has crafted timeless tunes for. Whether it was as a founding member of harmonious R&B trio Brooklyn Dreams (with Bruce Sudano and Eddie Hokenson), as a passionate…
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Licks That Stick: The Unsung Hero of Aerosmith
By J.C. Correa When you listen to the bluesy solo on Aerosmith’s influential early hit “Last Child,” the lead guitar work of their 1993 rocker “Fever,” or the assaulting guitars and piercing solos on 1976’s deep cut “Nobody’s Fault,” you would immediately think that they offer further proof of how indispensable a lead player Joe…
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‘The Outdated Entertainment Hour’ with Bob Smith
Nostalgic for the great entertainment you loved as a kid and young adult? The Outdated Entertainment Hour – hosted by Bob Smith, a veteran entertainment podcaster, writer and editor (Good Times Magazine, Pro Wrestling Illustrated) – will bring back many of your favorite music artists, TV shows, books, films, and much more. Enjoy conversations with…
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Billy Joel Exhibit Puts Fans in a ‘New York State of Mind’
By Joe Puccio Long Island is known for many things. Between beautiful beaches, sizeable mansions, scenic vineyards, and fresh seafood, the largest island in the contiguous United States certainly isn’t lacking in its vast array of comforting and appealing aspects that seem to draw more and more tourists each year. But as attractive as the…
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Journeying Into the ‘Unknown’ with Nary a Light to Show the Way
A Complete Unknown3 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa There is no denying that Bob Dylan is one of the greatest and most prolific songwriters in history. In the same manner, I don’t think anyone will ever argue that his work and legacy have left a print on our culture that has only enriched…
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‘Friday the 13th’ Actor Monarque Carves Out Successful Career
By Joe Puccio Any type of deviation to a cherished art form is inevitably met with resistance. When Ridley Scott’s 1979 horror masterpiece Alien was expanded into James Cameron’s decidedly more action-centric Aliens, science fiction fans were skeptical. When J. R. R. Tolkien’s beloved 1937 children’s fantasy novel The Hobbit received a sequel nearly twenty…
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Getting the Led Finally Out
Becoming Led Zeppelin3.5 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa In early 1969, after having already played a few dates in America, Led Zeppelin, then opening for a band called Vanilla Fudge, delivered a triumphant show at San Francisco’s famed Fillmore Club. It was considered so because up until then, though buzz was slowly building…
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The Sights and Sounds That Colored the Rain
Purple Rain2.5 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa Recently, Rolling Stone magazine awarded the top spot to Purple Rain in a list it compiled of the 100 greatest movie soundtracks in history. The choice was not necessarily unsurprising, in part considering the enduring appeal of many of the tunes in Prince’s 1984 masterpiece. Furthermore, the…
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‘From’ Television to Film, Ghafoori is a Star
By Joe Puccio Horror is arguably – and undeservedly – the single most maligned genre in the television and film landscape. While small screen critic darlings like The X Files and The Walking Dead have admittedly received their share of praise and motion picture fan favorites such as Psycho and The Silence of the Lambs…
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When Four Young Dudes With Dubious Haircuts Landed in America
Beatles ’643 out of 5 stars By J.C. Correa Albeit several months late, Beatles ’64 arrives perfectly timed to coincide with the 60th anniversary of the illustrious English band’s first trip to the United States. It was a two-week foray that saw them play The Ed Sullivan Show twice (first in New York, then in Miami); a…
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Return of the King: The Fall and Rise of Elvis Presley
By J.C. Correa Rock music enthusiasts (and basically anyone with a faint interest in measuring the pulse of pop culture during the second half of the 20th century) are undoubtedly familiar with the seismic importance associated with Elvis Presley’s 1968 Comeback Special. Along with Queen at Live Aid, The Beatles at Shea Stadium, and Jimi…
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Howarth Makes the ‘Trek’ to Long Island’s Fabled Cinema Arts Centre
By Joe Puccio The name Alan Howarth might not be as recognizable as Harrison Ford, Kurt Russell, or Jamie Lee Curtis. Yet in many ways, his contributions on films like Raiders of the Lost Ark, Escape from New York, and Halloween II are just as pivotal as that of their respective stars. Howarth has worked…
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Not Just ‘Big Talk’ – ‘Good Times’ Aplenty at Warrant / Lita Ford/ FireHouse
By Joe Puccio Once fairly rare, package tours have become quite the commodity for Generation Xers in recent years. In the current unsettled economic climate, musical acts simply cannot gross the same amount of money they did during the notably more lucrative 1980s and 1990s. Take ‘The Stadium Tour,’ for example. In the summer and…
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50 Years Later, This ‘Land’ is Not ‘Lost’
By Joe Puccio For Gen Xers who came of age in the 1970s, Sid and Marty Krofft are two names lavished with reverence. The Canadian brothers, simultaneously television creators, writers, and puppeteers, produced some of the most enduring small screen offerings of the era, including H.R. Pufnstuf, Sigmund and the Sea Monsters, and The Banana…
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Men Without Hats Can Still ‘Dance’ If They Want To
By Joe Puccio Johnny played guitar, Jenny played bassName of the band is ‘The Human Race’Everybody, tell me have you heard?Pop goes the world So go the lyrics to “Pop Goes the World,” a whimsical, yet intuitive, commentary on the music industry and the often cursory nature of popular culture. The song, a chart topper…
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Stones Still a ‘Gas, Gas, Gas’ in 2024
By Joe Puccio Shuffleboard. Gardening. Wordle. Scrapbooking. Relaxing. All of the above are standard activities for typical senior citizens that nobody would bat an eye at. Sir Michael Philip Jagger, however, is not your typical senior citizen. The superhuman, better known as Mick Jagger, frontman of the Rolling Stones, sprinted, shimmied, shook, and, well, sang…
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Pearcy Goes Back to the ‘Cellar’ 40 Years Later
By Joe Puccio Often overlooked in favor of more prominent 1980s hair metal offerings like Slippery When Wet (Bon Jovi), Hysteria (Def Leppard), and Shout at the Devil (Motley Crue), 1984’s Out of the Cellar is every bit as deserving of praise as its spandex spouses. Spawned by seminal sleaze rock favorites Ratt, the debut…
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Madonna Offers Smoke and Mirrors with Little Substance in Brooklyn
By Joe Puccio 10:20pm. That’s when Madonna hit the stage at Barclays Center on Thursday night, December 14. Although the arena was sweltering, the reception for the Queen of Pop was initially a bit chilly. While obviously garnering the expected roar from the thousands of faithful followers in attendance, the number of fans remaining in…
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A ‘Deuce’ of Shows in NYC and It’s a Wrap for Kiss – In Human Form, That Is
By Joe Puccio Fifty years after forming in New York City, glam rock icons Kiss ended it where it all began with a pair of sold-out extravaganzas at the legendary Madison Square Garden on December 1 and 2. For constituents of the Kiss Army privileged to be in attendance at one (or both) of the…
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The Darkness ‘Land’ in New York City
By Joe Puccio When Permission to Land exploded onto the music scene in 2003, glam rock was anything but at the top of the charts. Genres such as garage/indie rock (The White Stripes), rhythm and blues/soul (Alicia Keys), art/alternative rock (Radiohead), and nu metal/rap rock (Linkin Park) ruled terrestrial radio. Enter The Darkness. The British…
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Duran Duran Still Rocking ‘Planet Earth’
By Joe Puccio Formed nearly a half century ago, it’s difficult to truly understand just how popular Duran Duran still are – unless you witness the Birmingham, England-bred boys in person. The ‘notorious’ new wave notables barreled into New York City’s Forest Hills Stadium on September 22 with an eagerness equal to an act half…
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Aerosmith ‘Saddle’ Up in New York
By Joe Puccio If you were one of the 19,000 or so Aerosmith fans packed into the UBS Arena on Saturday, September 9, consider yourself lucky. After completing just three dates on their ‘Peace Out’ farewell jaunt, the band announced that lead singer extraordinaire Steven Tyler is being forced, per doctor’s orders, to rest his…
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Preteen Actor/Singer Madison Baez Is Proving to Be the ‘Right One’
By Joe Puccio Possessing the poise and pluck of somebody twice her age, Madison Taylor Baez has quickly become one of Hollywood’s most esteemed and elite talents. Fresh off of her commanding lead role in Showtime’s Let The Right One In, a television adaptation based on both John Ajvide Lindqvist’s 2004 novel as well as…
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Journey Provides a Much Needed ‘Escape’
By Joe Puccio While some popular musical acts benefit from bringing peers in their genre along on the road with them to aid with less than stellar ticket sales or a lack of sufficient hits, some obviously don’t require any help in the field. In these instances, being treated to ‘two for the price of…
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Ratt ‘Back For More’ in New York
By Joe Puccio Sleaze-rock veterans Ratt scurried into Long Island’s Paramount Theater on Thursday, December 19, as part of their In Your Direction tour, celebrating the 35th anniversary of the group’s seminal offering, Out of the Cellar. The rodent-branded quintet, led by gravelly-voiced front man Stephen Pearcy, barreled through a brisk, hits-heavy set that leaned considerably…
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‘Foreigner: Then and Now’
By Joe Puccio Perfectly timed for the gift-giving holidays, arena rock heavyweights Foreigner have released Foreigner – Double Vision: Then and Now. A grandiose, multi-platform celebration of the band’s legacy, past and present, the package includes the first ever reunion of the entire original lineup of the English-American outfit (minus the late Ed Gagliardi), sharing…
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Styx is Stellar in New York
By Joe Puccio When veteran artists produce new music, it tends to be a precarious endeavor. While diehard fanatics of still-active classic bands of the 60’s, 70’s, 80’s and beyond, such as the Rolling Stones, Aerosmith, Def Leppard, and Cheap Trick, will usually seek out any and every release of their favorite acts, the vast…
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Queen Musical Set to ‘Rock You’
By Joe Puccio Jukebox musicals have always been one of the most popular varieties of stage presentations. From Movin’ Out, which features the reflective, down-to-earth, stylings of Billy Joel, to Mamma Mia, a raucous celebration of Swedish dance pop sensations ABBA, to Rock of Ages, a tongue-in-cheek tribute to 1980s glam rock, the subgenre has…
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Joan Still ‘Loves Rock ‘n’ Roll’ While Heart Tries to Find the ‘Magic, Man’
By Joe Puccio Two of rock’s most decorated female-led acts closed out this year’s Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater concert season with both a bang and a whimper, depending on which portion of the performances one referred to. Dubbed “Love Alive,” headliners Ann and Nancy Wilson, with their bandmates in Heart, teamed up with…
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Extreme Bring the ‘Funk’ To NY
By Joe Puccio Widely pigeonholed for their syrupy, Everly Brothers-esque hit “More Than Words,” Extreme has always been a band that’s defied expectations. Although the New England-bred funk rock act’s career was launched with their self-titled debut at the tail-end of the 80s, it wasn’t until their 1990 sophomore release, Pornograffitti, lit up the charts…
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It’s ‘Nothin’ But A Good Time’ at Rock of Ages Revival / A ‘Rock’ing Conversation with Mitch Jarvis
By Joe Puccio Glam metal and theater are two canons of pop culture that seemingly couldn’t be more distinct. But if that’s entirely true, the thousands of hybrid fans of both genres that have made Rock of Ages, Chris D’Arienzo’s cleverly crafted classic rock creation, one of the longest running shows in Broadway history, clearly…
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Chicago Still Getting ‘Stronger Every Day’
By Joe Puccio Chicago is anything but an ordinary rock and roll band. Though often associated with softer style acts such as REO Speedwagon, Air Supply, and Orleans, in reality, the Midwestern outfit, formed more than 50 years ago in Illinois’ most populous city, are much more complex than that. While most traditional classic rock…
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Ratt Singer Delivers a ‘Thrill’ With New Album
By Joe Puccio The latest solo disc from Ratt rocker Stephen Pearcy is a virtual tour de force of 80s-style hard rock hooks. From the frenetic opener “U Only Live Twice” to the infectious “Sky Falling,” an Out of the Cellar-era-sounding powerhouse (think “In Your Direction” with a splash of “Wanted Man”), all the way…
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Kix’s ‘Blow My Fuse’ Turns 30
By Joe Puccio One of the more underrated hard rock records (and really, groups, as well) of the 80s, Kix’s platinum-selling Blow My Fuse is the latest classic disc to get the deluxe treatment aimed at diehard fans longing for something extra from their favorite artists’ catalogues. The seminal work, originally unleashed on audiences back…
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Alter Bridge With an Orchestra Live in London
By Joe Puccio Recorded over the course of two sold-out shows at London’s legendary Royal Albert Hall, hard rock mainstays Alter Bridge have released their latest live album, out September 7, aptly titled Live At The Royal Albert Hall, through Napalm Records. And although it’s not the first recording of its kind for the Orlando,…
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The Dead Daisies ‘Rise Up’ Again at The Highline
By Joe Puccio It’s been exactly one year since The Dead Daisies last played The Highline Ballroom in New York City. And although it would have been difficult to believe at the time, the talented supergroup has become even tighter than they were during their last visit to the Big Apple. Led by the powerfully…
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New York Metal Fans Still ‘Mad About’ Slaughter
By Joe Puccio If there was only one word to describe Slaughter’s recent headlining performance at The Space in Westbury, ‘loud’ would be fitting. The metal quartet, led by former Vinnie Vincent Invasion vocalist Mark Slaughter, brought their raucous show to Long Island, N.Y. on Wednesday, August 15, and proceeded to thrash the eardrums of…
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‘Kick’ing It With Saigon’s Bieler in New York City
By Joe Puccio Saigon Kick co-founder Jason Bieler, in the midst of a string of one-man acoustic performances, recently proved once again why the singer-songwriter’s gigs have been so well-received by everybody who attends them. More of a sporadic schedule of shows than a full frenetic flock of back-to-back dates, Bieler is clearly having a…
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Retro Futura: A Journey Back to the 80s
By Joe Puccio Totally awesome would be the most appropriate description of the predominantly United Kingdom-centric version of the annual Retro Futura concert, the all-1980s package tour that celebrates the decade known for big hair, bold fashion, and bombastic music. The NYCB Theatre at Westbury on Long Island, NY, played host to the popular multi-act…
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Quiet Riot ‘Feel The Noize’ in New York
By Joe Puccio They were the first heavy metal band to top the Billboard album charts, with Metal Health, in 1983. They had a string of successful music videos in the MTV-saturated 80s. They toured with some of the most elite acts in rock, such as Black Sabbath, Iron Maiden, and Whitesnake. Today, in 2018,…
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Styx, Joan Jett, and Tesla in New York / Styx Singer is on a ‘Mission’
By Joe Puccio One of the most anticipated package tours of the summer hit the Northwell at Jones Beach Theater on Friday, June 29, as fans of three rather diverse bands came together to support their favorites. Joan Jett and the Blackhearts, Styx, and Tesla teamed up to provide an evening of both familiar radio…
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Poison Has ‘Nothin’ But A Good Time’ at Jones Beach
By Joe Puccio There is perhaps no band more synonymous with straight-forward, feel-good, American party rock than Poison. The glam quartet, together for over 30 years – with a brief interruption during the not-kind-to metal mid-90s – steamrolled into the Northwell Health at Jones Beach Theater on Long Island, NY, on a mission. And that…
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Any Way They Want It: Journey and Def Leppard Rock The Garden
By Joe Puccio In the crowded summer concert season, artists will often roll out a variety of gimmicks with the hope of enticing music fans to part with their hard-earned money. These may include celebratory performances of classic albums from the act’s catalogue, “farewell tours” that are more often than not followed years later with…
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Lizzy Borden Set to Slay With ‘Midnight’
By Joe Puccio Before Marilyn Manson unleashed his distinct brand of ‘shock and roll’ on audiences all over the world, glam rocker Lizzy Borden was crafting his own visual version of music to affectively assault the senses. Named after the infamous 19th century New England woman accused of viciously murdering her father and stepmother with…
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Sons Of Apollo ‘Come Home’ to New York
By Joe Puccio It’s easy to label progressive rock as pretentious, bombastic, and self indulgent. The polarizing genre, popularized by prog pioneers such as Rush, Yes, and Kansas, has long been criticized for its propensity for lengthy solos, grandiose stage shows, and nonsensical lyrics. But with any musical style, there are a plethora of both…
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Night Ranger Can Still ‘Rock In America’
By Joe Puccio For those who think Night Ranger is merely the group who rose to the top of the music charts with the 1983 hit power ballad “Sister Christian,” seeing them during their recent stop at the Paramount Theater on Long Island, NY on May 3 would surely change their minds. The gig, part…
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Guns Are ‘Cocked And Loaded’ at Revolution
By Joe Puccio The 80s produced many different well known subgenres of “metal,” from speed metal (Motorhead, Anthrax), to thrash metal (Slayer, Metallica), to progressive metal (Queensryche, Dream Theater) to glam metal (Poison, Bon Jovi). But there’s one subcategory of the style that’s not quite as established in the vernacular of rock aficionados – sleaze…
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Benatar and Giraldo Get ‘Intimate’ at The Paramount
By Joe Puccio The Holy 14. Diehard fans of Pat Benatar are exceedingly familiar with the aptly-titled term, which refers to the healthy number of Top-40 hits that the mega-successful crooner has amassed throughout her illustrious, nearly 40-year career. Along with her often overlooked, yet immensely important, songwriting partner – and husband – Neil Giraldo…
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Kix ‘Blows’ Its ‘Fuse’ at The Space
By Joe Puccio As difficult as it is to believe, Blow My Fuse, the seminal album recorded by 80s hard rockers Kix, turned 30 this year. And what better way to mark the occasion than to play the popular record in its entirety, from top to bottom, as part of the Maryland band’s current string of live…
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Daisies Are Set to ‘Burn It Down’
By Joe Puccio They are a part of the genre known collectively as “new classic rock,” according to rhythm guitarist, businessman, and band founder David Lowy. And if The Dead Daisies’ new disc Burn It Down, out April 6, is any indication, the self-appointed label couldn’t be more veracious. From the blazing, opening cords of…
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Former Motley Crue Singer Releases First ‘Live’ Album
By Joe Puccio Ask any average metal fan what their favorite Motley Crue song is and you’ll likely receive a wide range of answers, ranging from early, pre-Elektra Records picks like “Live Wire” or “Too Fast For Love,” breakthrough-era selections such as “Shout At The Devil” or “Looks That Kill,” and consequent, post-rehab tunes like…
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Winger Fans ‘Can’t Get Enuff’ at The Space
By Joe Puccio When Kip Winger altered the chorus to “Seventeen” and sang “She’s only 47” on December 10 in New York, the intent of the joke was clear – the hit came out nearly 30 years ago, meaning the barely legal subject of the popular song would be exactly that age now. Yet despite…
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Skid Row Still ‘Paramount’ to Rock Scene
By Joe Puccio While most people might think of either Bon Jovi or Bruce Springsteen when the subject of New Jersey rockers comes up, it’s difficult to ignore another powerhouse from the Garden State – metal veterans Skid Row. Formed in 1986 by co-founders bassist Rachel Bolan and guitarist Dave “Snake” Sabo, the pair recruited…
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‘Saigon’s’ Bieler ‘Kicks’ it up a Notch
By Joe Puccio No single musical genre immediately comes to mind when discussing the sound of Saigon Kick, the Florida-formed outfit that first hit the scene in the early 1990s with their self-titled debut that quickly resulted in cult classic status. Not quite metal, not exactly glam, and not entirely alternative, Jason Bieler, Matt Kramer,…
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‘Life’ is Good for Tom Keifer
By Joe Puccio Tom Kiefer usually makes it a priority to play BB King’s in New York City whenever he embarks on a solo tour, a stop that frequently results in being a highlight of the trek. Wednesday night, October 11, proved to be no different as the Cinderella frontman performed a blistering, 75 minute…
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L.A. Guns Find ‘Peace’
By Joe Puccio It’s been 15 years since one of hard rock’s most talented duos, frontman Phil Lewis and guitarist Tracii Guns, have released new music. The pair, the two core members of 80s heavy metal veterans LA Guns, last collaborated on 2002’s Waking The Dead, the initial comeback disc in the band’s history. Its…
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‘Through Worlds Of’ Steelheart
By Joe Puccio Known for possessing one of rock’s most powerful and melodic voices, Miljenko Matijevic is back with a brand-new album comprised of a healthy mix of throwback anthems and modern tunes, sure to please both old and new fans alike. Steelheart, Matijevic’s brainchild, burst onto the music scene in 1990 with their self-titled…
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The Dead Daisies are ‘Making Some Noise’
By Joe Puccio Comprised of former members of legendary bands such as Whitesnake, Motley Crue, Foreigner and Dio, The Dead Daisies are the prototypical example of a supergroup. Formed in 2012 in Sydney, Australia by guitarist David Lowy and vocalist Jon Stevens, the band has gone through multiple personnel changes in their relatively brief five years of existence.…
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Quiet Riot Still Unleashing the ‘Rage’
By Joe Puccio When most people think of Quiet Riot, they think of the mid-80s heavy metal powerhouse quartet, famous for anthems like “Cum on Feel the Noize,” “Party All Night,” and “Mama Weer All Crazee Now.” But the band’s history is much more immense than that. Originally founded in 1973 by legendary guitarist Randy…
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Warrant Return, ‘Louder Harder Faster’
By Joe Puccio You’d be hard pressed to find a band that embodied 1980s glam rock more than Warrant. Although their debut offering, Dirty Rotten Filthy Stinking Rich, wasn’t unleashed until the tail end of the hard rock-laden decade in 1989, the band succeeded in becoming one of the most iconic and hard-working acts of the…
Generation X Wire 