Through Fire Unveils ‘Where You Lie’ Video

Posted on October 31, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: Sumerian Records

Through Fire is giving audiences another taste of its recently re-issued album Breathe.

The band unveiled Tuesday the video for the album’s latest single Where You Lie. The timing of the video’s release on Halloween was fitting considering that it was filmed in a setting meant to be a dimly lit forest that included some tombstones. Even with that dark imagery, the song, which can be experienced with its new video here now, is anything but dark.

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Breathe’s deluxe re-issue is available now in stores and online via Sumerian Records. The band will tour this fall in support of the re-issue on the 2017 Breakout Tour, which will also feature Danger Kids, Righteous Vendetta and American Sin as support acts. The tour, whose schedule is noted below, launches Nov. 28 in Ringle, WI and currently runs through Dec. 16 in Omaha, NE.

2017 Breakout Tour Dates

Nov 28, Q and Z Expo Center – Ringle, WI

Nov-29 Route 20 Outhouse – Racine, WI

Nov-30, The Basement – Columbus, OH

Dec 01, The Limelight – Peoria, IL

Dec 02, The Outland – Springfield, MO

Dec 03, The Warehouse – Clarksville, TN

Dec 04, Capone’s – Johnson City, TN

Dec 05, Madison Live – Convington, KY

Dec 08, Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX

Dec 09, House of Rock – Corpus Christi, TX

Dec 10, Gas Monkey Bar & Grill – Dallas, TX

Dec 12, Blueberry Hill – St. Louis, MO

Dec 13, The Forge – Joliet, IL

Dec 14, The Annex – Madison, WI

Dec 16, The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE

More information on Through Fire’s new single, video, album re-issue, tour and more is available online now at:

Website: http://www.ThroughFireMusic.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/throughfiremusic

Twitter: http://twitter.com/TFIREMUSIC

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

Saxon Announces New Retrospective, Live Recording; Joining Judas Priest Live

Posted on October 31, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: Chipster PR

Saxon will release an extensive new hits collection this fall.

BMG will release the band’s new anthology Decade of the Eagle on Friday, Dec. 1. The compilation will feature 34 tracks taken from the band’s first nine albums and liner notes from front man Biff Byford outlining that period of the band’s career. It will also feature rare and classic pictures of the band from that period.

Byford said of the albums represented in this latest compilation that they represented a key moment in the band’s life, adding they are still as important today as they were in their original release.

“These are the albums from a time in the eighties that moved a generation of rock fans from around the world, when British rock was once again at the front,” Byford said. “Great times – never to be forgotten and still reverberating to this day.”

Along with its standard CD and LP release, Decade of the Eagle will also be released on a deluxe limited edition 4 LP and deluxe 2 CD platform. Pre-orders are open now here. The compilation’s full track listing is noted below.

TRACKLISTING

1 Stallions Of The Highway

2 Big Teaser

3 Backs To The Wall

4 Militia Guard

5 Wheels Of Steel

6 747 (Strangers In The Night)

7 Suzie Hold On

8 Motorcycle Man (live)

9 Strong Arm Of The Law

10 Heavy Metal Thunder

11 20,000ft (live)

12 Dallas 1PM

13 And The Bands Played On

14 Never Surrender

15 Denim And Leather

16 Fire In the Sky (live)

17 Princess Of The Night

18 Power & The Glory

19 This Town Rocks

20 The Eagle Has Landed

21 Midas Touch

22 Sailing To America

23 Crusader

24 Devil Rides Out

25 Back On The Streets

26 Rockin’ Again

27 Rock N’ Roll Gypsy

28 Broken Heroes

29 Waiting For The Night

30 Rock The Nations

31 Northern Lady

32 Battle Cry

33 Ride Like The Wind

34 Red Alert

1LP & 1CD Tracklist:

1 Backs To The Wall

2 Wheels Of Steel

3 747 (Strangers In The Night)

4 Strong Arm Of The Law

5 Denim And Leather

6 Power And The Glory

7 Sailing To America

8 Rock N’Roll Gypsy

9 Waiting For The Night

10 Ride Like The Wind

Courtesy: Saxon

Along with the new retrospective, the band will also soon release its latest live recording 10 Years of Denim and Leather on CD/DVD combo pack. Pre-orders for that recording are also open now. The band’s most recent live recording Let Me Feel Your Power was released Oct. 28, 2016.

Courtesy: Judas Priest

The band will give audiences the chance to experience its live show in person next spring when it hits the road for the Firepower 2018 tour, headlined by Judas Priest. The tour, which will be in support of the band’s forthcoming album Firepower, launches March 13 in Wilkes-Barr, PA. Black Star Riders will serve as support alongside Saxon.

The tour’s current schedule is noted below.

Confirmed tour dates:

3/13/2018 Wilkes Barre, PA Mohegan Sun Arena at Casey Plaza

3/15/2018 Youngstown, OH Covelli Centre

3/17/2018 Uniondale, NY Nassau Coliseum

3/18/2018 Washington, DC The Anthem

3/20/2018 Newark, NJ Prudential Center

3/22/2018 Uncasville, CT Mohegan Sun Arena

3/25/2018 Ottawa, ON The Arena at TD Place

3/27/2018 London, ON Budweiser Gardens

3/28/0208 Oshawa, ON Tribute Communities Centre

3/30/2018 Orillia, ON Casino Rama

3/31/2018 Detroit, MI Detroit Masonic Temple

4/3/2018 Milwaukee, WI Riverside Theater

4/5/2018 Green Bay, WI Resch Center

4/8/2018 Bloomington, IL Grossinger Motors Arena

4/10/2018 Casper, WY Casper Events Center

4/11/2018 Loveland, CO Budweiser Events Center

4/15/2018 Kent, WA ShoWare Center

4/17/2018 Portland, OR Veterans Memorial Coliseum

4/19/2018 San Francisco The Warfield

4/22/2018 Los Angeles, CA Microsoft Theater

4/24/2018 Phoenix, AZ Comerica Theatre

4/26/2018 Tulsa, OK BOK Center

4/28/2018 Dallas, TX The Bomb Factory

4/29/2018 Sugarland, TX Smart Financial Centre

5/1/2018 San Antonio, TX Freeman Coliseum

More information on Decade of the Eagle is available online now along with all of Saxon’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://www.saxon747.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/saxon

Twitter: http://twitter.com/SaxonOfficial

Pop Evil Unveils New LP’s Lead Single, Video; Announces New Live Dates

Posted on October 30, 2017 by philspicks

Cover ARt by Mike Chardcore

Pop Evil is giving audiences their first taste of its next album.

The band has unveiled the video for its new single ‘Walking Lions,’ which will be included in the band’s next album, tentatively set to be released Feb. 16 via Entertainment One. The song, which is a solid hard rock composition akin to music from Sevendust, Otherwise and similar acts, is everything that audiences have come to expect from the band both musically and lyrically. Audiences can view the video online now here.

The band’s new album, its fifth full-length studio recording, is tentatively a self-titled release and will come a little more than two years after the release of the band’s fourth album Up. Up was released Aug. 21, 2015.

The band will go back on the road this fall in support of its new album beginning Nov. 16 in Lexington, KY. Its nearly three-week- tour runs through Dec. 2 and includes performances in Warrendale, PA; Huntsville, Ala; Nashville, TN and other cities. The band’s current tour schedule is noted below.

TOUR DATES
Nov 16 – Manchester Music Hall – Lexington, KY
Nov 17 – Oddbody’s – Dayton, OH
Nov 18 – House of Blues Cleveland – Cleveland, OH
Nov 20 – Jergel’s Rhythm Grille – Warrendale, PA
Nov 21 – The Forge – Joliet, IL
Nov 22 – Spicoli’s – Waterloo, IA
Nov 25 – Regency Live – Springfield, MO
Nov 26 – Sammy T’s Music Hall – Huntsville, AL
Nov 29 – Exit/In – Nashville, TN
Dec 01 – The Apollo Theatre Ac – Belvidere, IL
Dec 02 – Bourbon Theatre – Lincoln, NE

More information on Pop Evil’s new single, album, tour and more is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://www.PopEvil.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/popevil

Twitter: http://twitter.com/popevil

Ellefson Coffee Company To Mark Its Expansion Next Month With Hometown Party

Posted on October 30, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Ellefson Coffee Company is expanding its presence in its hometown, and its founder will be on hand to help mark the occasion. .

Dave Ellefson, the company’s founder (and Megadeth bassist) will return to his hometown (and his company’s home town) Nov. 18 to celebrate the birthday of Kat’s Hog Heaven, the latest of the town’s local retailers to carry the company’s coffee. The special birthday/end-of-year celebration will feature a display of various memorabilia from Ellefson’s Museum of Deth, which includes items from throughout Ellefson’s career.

The Ron Keel Band, who recently signed to EMP Label Group’s new Southern Rock/Outlaw Country imprint EMP Outlaw will provide musical entertainment for the event. As an added touch, the celebration will also feature the debut of Ellefson Coffee Company’s new Jackson House Blend line.

Ellefson said in a recent interview that he was looking forward to the forthcoming event.

“I am so excited to return to Jackson and welcome our newest ECC retailer, Kat’s Hog Heaven, and unveil the Jackson House Blend!,” Ellefson said. “Since we started ECC we have scoured the world to find a reasonably priced coffee that will adhere to the high quality standards we have set for ECC, and we are sure we have hit the jackpot with the Jackson House Blend. I am also extremely excited to welcome my old friend Ron Keel to Jackson and showcase the latest addition to the EMP family!”

Ellefson Coffee Company Marketing/Operations Director Thom Hazaert agreed.

“The last time we went to Jackson, it was an absolute blast,” Hazert said. “We’re so stoked to go back and introduce our new blend that pays homage to David’s hometown, and the great people of Minnesota! And this time we’re dragging Ron Keel along for the ride! We’ll also have tons of giveaways and surprises, so definitely get down and see us at Kat’s!!! (And try some of Donnie’s amazing BBQ).”

More information on Ellefson Coffee Company is available online now at:

Website: http://Ellefsoncoffeecompany.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/ellefsoncoffeeco

‘Live in Prague’ Will “Score” With Zimmer’s Fans And Movie Buffs Alike

Posted on October 29, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Hans Zimmer is one of the most respected and sought after composers in the entertainment industry today. With credits reaching all the way back to 1982’s Moonlighting, which starred Jeremy Irons, and as recent as 2017’s Genius, which recently aired on National Geographic Channel and starred Johnny Flynn and Geoffrey Rush as the young and adult Albert Einstein respectively, Zimmer has successfully worked on dozens of movies television programs and even music videos throughout his career. This coming Friday, Nov. 3, audiences will get to experience some of Zimmer’s work firsthand in a new live setting thanks to Eagle Rock Entertainment’s new live recording Hans Zimmer Live in Prague. Originally recorded live May 7, 2016 in Prague during Zimmer’s successful European concert tour, this two-hour, 18-minute concert is a clear example of why Zimmer is considered one of the entertainment industry’s great musical minds. That is due in part to the songs and movies that make up the concert’s set list. The visuals that are incorporated into the concert are just as certain as the set list to keep audiences entertained and engaged. They will be discussed later. The recording’s companion booklet rounds out its most important element. Each element is important in its own right to ensuring audiences’ engagement and entertainment. All things considered, the noted elements make Hans Zimmer Live in Prague a solid example of why Zimmer is one of the entertainment industry’s most respected figures.

Hans Zimmer Live in Prague is a concert experience unlike almost everything that Eagle Rock Entertainment has released in recent years. That is because unlike so many of the company’s previous recordings, this is a full orchestral performance rather than a performance put on by a band, act or group. It is a modern classical concert that through its snapshot of Zimmer’s career, shows why Zimmer’s is such a respected musical mind. That is due in part to that snapshot. The concert features songs used in some of the key moments in Zimmer’s career including Disney’s Pirates of the Caribbean franchise, Christopher Nolan’s Dark Knight Trilogy and Driving Miss Daisy as well as some of the lesser-known movies to which he contributed. Those lesser-known movies include Crimson Tide (1995), The Thin Red Line (1998) and True Romance (1993). Simply put, the movies and songs selected for the concert are but a glimpse into an otherwise extensive concert, yet still serve collectively to paint a clear picture of his career despite this fact.

On another level, the concert’s set list proves important to the concert’s presentation because of the thought put into its ordering. Audiences will note that the concert starts off on a light-hearted note with ‘Driving,’ from Driving Miss Daisy, a gentle composition centered around Zimmer’s work on piano and Richard Harvey’s work on clarinet. From there, the concert’s energy gradually builds more and more with each song until finally relaxing again late in its run in the performance of ‘You’re So Cool’ from True Romance. The set list becomes even more reserved – albeit momentarily – as Zimmer and his fellow musicians make their way into the theme song from the hit 1988 Dustin Hoffman/Tom Cruise hit Rain Man before building back again as it moves into ‘What Are You Going To Do When You Are Not Saving The World?’, taken from the 2013 Superman incarnation Man of Steel. The energy remains high for quite a while from here before pulling back noticeably in the tribute to the victims of the 2012 Aurora, CO movie theater shooting in the aptly titled ‘Aurora.’ Once again, the energy builds back again following that deeply moving composition as the organization makes its way through a pair of medleys from Interstellar and Inception to close out the show. The way in which the whole show closes is the perfect accent to that final crescendo as it closes out the concert in expert fashion. It is just one more way in which the set list proves pivotal to the concert’s presentation. Keeping all of this in mind, it becomes clear why this concert’s set list is such an important piece of its whole. If any one thing can be said negative to the set list, it would be that considering his extensive resume, it would have been nice to have received more than just his most recent blockbuster action flick compositions. It would have been nice to have seen August Rush (2007), the 2010 TV mini-series The Pacific and maybe even The Simpsons Movie since he had a direct hand in that movie, too. While it is nice to see as many classics as are represented here, it would have been nice to see them balanced with more of his body of work rather than so many of his major blockbuster work. That is not to say the set list should have been longer, but rather just more representative of Zimmer’s current body of work. Even with this in mind, the set list still proves regardless to be its own important part of the recording’s whole. It is only one of the key elements to note in examining this recording. The visuals incorporated into the concert are just as important to discuss as the concert’s set list.

The visuals incorporated into this concert are so important to discuss because of the impact that they have when coupled with the music. Rather than just putting the scenes to which each composition was connected in its respective movie, Zimmer and company instead chose to use more random visualizations to illustrate the songs’ energies. The visuals used in partner with ‘Journey to the Red Line’ (from The Thin Red Line) is one of the are among the hardest hitting because of their simplicity. A dotted red line pulses behind the orchestra in time with the pulse of the song’s beat, and grows in its intensity along with the arrangement’s intensity. This simple approach goes a long way toward illustrating the song’s emotional depth and power. Whether or not audiences have seen The Thin Red Line, the use of that visual, when coupled with the equally engaging arrangement, lets audiences know that this arrangement obviously was meant to illustrate a very tense situation. It does an impressive job of illustrating that emotion, too. In the same vein, the strobes and flashing colors used in ‘The Electro Suite’ (taken from The Amazing Spiderman 2) couple with the song’s guitar-driven, almost rock style arrangement to give audiences a vivid picture of how Electro came to being in that movie even without having seen the movie. It is yet another truly intense moment that is certain to keep audiences engaged and entertained. On a serious side note, moments such as this may be considered dangerous for any viewer who might suffer from epilepsy because of the constant flashing of the lights. That must be noted. Even when the visuals are as simple as changing colors, such as in the theme from Crimson Tide, that minimalist approach proves useful, too. That is because the colors themselves serve to illustrate the mood created first through the music. It is just one more example of why the visualizations incorporated into this concert are so important to its presentation, and is hardly the last example that could be cited. Keeping this in mind, the concert’s companion booklet rounds out its most important elements.

The companion booklet included with Hans Zimmer Live in Prague is important to the recording’s whole because of the background that it offers audiences before they take in the concert from the comfort of their homes. Jeremy Thomas writes in the recording’s liner notes the reason that Prague was chosen as the site for this recording – he notes the country’s history played a big part in that choice – Zimmer’s willingness from one song to the next to not stick to just one type of musical grouping, allowing electric guitars to be married with pan flutes and other non-traditional instruments in some points while using other more traditional groupings in others. As if this is not enough, Thomas also gives a concise summary of the concert and much more through his liner notes. Between the items noted here and those not discussed, the whole of the material discussed throughout the booklet’s liner notes offers its own enjoyment for audiences. When that enjoyment is considered along with the enjoyment offered through the concert’s set list and visualizations, the whole of those elements shows why this one-of-a-kind recording from Eagle Rock Entertainment will “score” with Zimmer’s fans and movie buffs alike.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s forthcoming recording Hans Zimmer Live in Prague is a work that is certain to “score” with Zimmer’s fans and with movie buffs alike. That is due in part to the recording’s set list. Despite lifting liberally from the most recent blockbusters which Zimmer scored, the set list does include songs from some of the lesser-known movies on which Zimmer worked, too. The visualizations used in each song (and medley) adds its own touch to the recording. Rather than relying on footage from the songs’ associated movies, random visualizations are used throughout, allowing audiences to create their own scenes in their own minds. The liner notes included in the recording’s companion booklet put the finishing touch on the recording. Each element is important in its own right to the recording’s whole. All things considered, they make this recording one that will, again, “score” with Zimmer’s fans and movie buffs alike. It will be available Friday, Nov. 3 in stores and online. More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

CMG’s ‘The Old Dark House’ Re-Issue Is Sure To “Scare Up” Plenty Of Fans

Posted on October 27, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: Cohen Media Group

Halloween night is almost upon us, and in celebration of the big night, Turner Classic Movies has a full slate of movies throughout the day and night sure to give people plenty of good scares. From White Zombie to the original 1960 take of 13 Ghosts to the original 1963 take of The Haunting and more, the greatest classic movies network has plenty on its schedule to help audiences celebrate Halloween in the safety of their own homes. As notable as most of the movies on the network’s schedule are, it does have some lesser-known yet just as spine-tingling movies on its list including The Old Dark House. Originally released in 1932 by Universal Pictures, starring Boris Karloff and directed by James Whaley (who also directed Frankenstein, Bride of Frankenstein, The Man in the Iron Mask, etc.), it was recently re-issued on Blu-ray Oct. 24 via Cohen Media Group. This movie is one of the hidden gems of Karloff’s career and a work that every horror purist will want to own now that it has finally been re-issued. That is due in no small part to the movie’s story, which will be discussed shortly. The approach taken in the story’s presentation is just as important to note in examining the movie as the story itself. It will be discussed later. The bonus material included with the movie’s new re-issue rounds out its most important elements. Each element is important in its own right to the movie’s presentation. All things considered, they make Cohen Media Group’s re-issue of The Old Dark House a re-issue that will shine in any horror movie purist’s collection.

Cohen Media Group’s brand new re-issue of Universal Pictures’ 1932 classic horror/thriller The Old Dark House is a release that is certain to shine in any horror movie purist’s collection. That is due in no small part to its story, which is relatively simple to follow. A group of people trying to get out of a bad storm end up together in a creepy old house with some equally creepy figures. When one of those really creepy figures (played by Boris Karloff) gets hold of some alcohol, the danger to the group of strangers becomes very real. This is a storyline that has been used any number of times since this movie’s debut. In some cases, it has worked. In just as many cases, it has failed in grand fashion. Considering this, The Old Dark House is among the best of the story’s instances.

Adding even more importance to the story is that the 72-minute tale takes place over the course of a single night in the creepy old house, thus keeping the story from getting too bogged down in itself. Even with the characters’ interweaving storylines added to that central story, the focus remains clearly on the group’s attempts to survive into the morning. The overall simplicity in the story’s time frame and plot setup are collectively so simple that collectively, they alone give audiences plenty to enjoy here. They are also collectively just one of the most important of the movie’s elements. The overall approach to the story is just as important to note in examining the movie as the story itself.

The approach to The Old Dark House’s story is so important because it heightens the story’s tension, and in turn, makes the movie that much more engaging. The subtle use of lighting throughout the movie is just one important part of the approach that creates that tension. There are also certain shots throughout the movie that utilize a certain “fuzzing” effect that is just as subtle as the lighting effects. That subtle aesthetic effect adds even more impact to the movie’s approach, and in turn makes the movie that much more engaging for audiences. On yet another level, audiences will take note of the juxtaposition of Morgan’s (played by Boris Karloff) diabolical side to his surprisingly humane side as another important part of the movie’s approach. That element of the movie’s approach is certain to generate its own interest and discussion among audiences. Keeping all of this in mind, it becomes clear just why the approach taken to The Old Dark House is so important to its overall presentation. It is not the last of the movie’s most important elements, either. The bonus material included with the movie is just as important to note as the approach to the movie and its story.

The bonus material included in The Old Dark House’s brand new re-issue rounds out its most important elements. Audiences get lots of bonuses in this re-issue, too. The sit-down interview with Boris Karloff’s daughter Sara in which she discusses her father’s distaste for gory horror movies, the three most important elements of his own acting profile, and her own surprising admission about how long it took her to watch some of her father’s works (among other topics) is one of the most important of the movie’s bonuses. The feature-length audio commentary with Gloria Stuart adds even more depth to the movie’s overall presentation. Audiences learn through her commentary early on about her cast mates complaining about the shooting schedule as well as the fear factor of certain scenes as well as so much more. That’s only within the movie’s first half hour or so. Audiences will also appreciate the discussion on the movie’s restoration and the interview included in the movie’s companion booklet. When this is all joined with the feature-length commentary from James Curtis, the whole of these bonuses adds so much depth to the movie that their importance simply cannot be argued or ignored. Keeping this in mind, the bonus material included in this re-issue puts the final touch to the movie’s overall presentation. When this is considered along with the importance of the movie’s story and the approach to the story, the end result is a movie that every horror purist will appreciate whether on Halloween or another time of year.

Cohen Media Group’s brand new re-issue of Universal Pictures’ 1932 horror thriller classic The Old Dark House is a release that every horror purist will appreciate not just on Halloween but at any time of the year. That is due in no small part to its story, which is so enjoyable thanks to its simplicity. The overall approach to the story’s presentation – both in terms of its aesthetic elements and other content – strengthens the movie’s presentation even more. The rich breadth of bonus material included in the movie’s new re-issue rounds out its most important elements. Each element is important in its own right to the movie’s whole. All things considered, the noted elements make The Old Dark House a title that is certain to “scare up” plenty of horror movie purists. It is available now in stores and online. More information on this and other titles from Cohen Media Group is available online at:

Website: http://www.cohenmedia.net

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/CohenMediaGroup

Twitter: http://twitter.com/cohenmediagroup

‘Sunset Motel’ Is A Shining New Reckless Kelly Album

Posted on October 27, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: thirty-One Tigers/No Big Deal Records

Alt-country outfit Reckless Kelly marked a very special anniversary last week. The Austin, TX-based band marked the 20^th anniversary of the release of its debut album Millican Oct. 20. The album was re-issued in a very limited number of copies – only 1,000 copies to be exact – making it a very special release for the band and fans alike. For those who might not have been lucky enough to get their hands on a copy of the album, there is some consolation that they can still get their hands on the band’s most recent album, 2016’s Sunset Motel. Though a little more than a year has passed since the 13-song album was originally released, it is still just as enjoyable today as it was in that release. That is due in part to the record’s musical arrangements, which will be discussed shortly. The album’s lyrical themes are just as important to note as its musical content. Last but not least of mention is the record’s packaging. It seems surprising, true, but is definitely worth noting. Each element is important in its own right to the album’s overall presentation. All things considered, Sunset Motel proves to be a record that any Reckless Kelly fan will enjoy.

Reckless Kelly’s ninth full-length studio recording Sunset Motel is yet another solid effort from the Austin, TX-based alt-country outfit. Released a little more than three years after its 2013 album Long Night Moon, the album boasts plenty of positives, not the least of which is its collective musical arrangements. The arrangements presented throughout the course of the record’s 51-minute run time are everything that audiences have come to expect from the band throughout the band’s life. From the southern rock arrangements present in ‘Radio,’ ‘Moment in the Sun,’ and ‘Give It Up’ to the more direct country music leanings of ‘Under Lucky Stars,’ ‘Who’s Gonna Be Your Baby Now’ and the album’s title track to the middle ground in ‘One More Last Time,’ — which boasts quite a clear comparison to so many works from the late, great Tom Petty — ‘Volcano’ and ‘How Can You Love Him (You Don’t Even Like Him)’, the arrangements presented throughout this record prove familiar ground for the band without being redundant from its previous works. That ability of the band to present plenty of familiar sounds without being too familiar impresses plenty in itself. It is just one of the elements that makes the album so enjoyable. The album’s lyrical themes are just as important to discuss in examining it as its musical arrangements.

The lyrical themes presented throughout the course of Sunset Motel are just as certain to keep listeners engaged throughout the album’s 51-minute run time as its musical arrangements. That is because they range from the serious to the standard and even in-between from start to finish. The album’s opener sees its subject scratching his head as he asks a woman (probably the object of his affection) why she has fallen for another man in whom she seemingly doesn’t even like. What man hasn’t been such a position at one point or another in life? It is just one of the songs included in this record that takes on the standard subject of relationships. ‘The Champ,’ ‘Who’s Gonna Be Your BabyNow’ and ‘Sad Songs About You’ also take on the topic. It isn’t the only topic that the band tackles in this record. The album’s title track presents a much more serious subject in the matter of addiction. The song doesn’t make clear if that addiction is to drugs, alcohol or both. Regardless, it takes on the issue in moving fashion. ‘Volcano’ also presents its own serious turn as Braun and company take on so many issues that continue to divide the U.S. today. Those issues include climate change, the debate over evolution and conservation. The sense of cynical sarcasm in the song seems to paint a picture of frustration over how those issues have become so divisive. It really is a strong statement from Braun and company here. On a slightly lighter note, the band also takes on the music industry itself in playful fashion in ‘ Radio.’ The song jokes in sarcastic fashion about all the things that acts have to do to get on the radio and make names for themselves. It’s a topic that is not rarely tackled, but also is not addressed too commonly, either. To that end (and the way in which it is addressed here), it is another interesting addition to the album. When it is considered along with the already noted themes and those not noted here, the whole of those themes makes clear why Sunset Motel’s lyrical themes are collectively just as important to note here as the album’s musical arrangements. Its lyrical themes are not the last of its most important elements. The album’s packaging round out its most important elements.

Sunset Motel’s packaging is an important piece of the album’s whole not because of its gatefold presentation, but because of its fun 3-D visuals. The “motel room key” included in the album is not just a room key, but a viewer to find the hidden pictures and messages placed throughout the album’s packaging. There are plenty of those messages and pictures across the album’s “booklet,” which turns out to be a map of sorts. Some of the images and messages spread across the “map” include headshots of the band members hidden on Mt. Rushmore, a giant rattlesnake spread across the country, and even a mirage of sorts used to better illustrate the message presented in Sunset Motel’s title track among much more. It may not seem like much on the surface, but the fun presented in discovering the hidden pictures and messages placed throughout the album makes for its own share of enjoyment for listeners. When that enjoyment is considered along with the enjoyment brought in the album’s musical arrangements and lyrical themes, the whole of those elements makes the album in whole a presentation that every one of Reckless Kelly’s fans will appreciate.

Reckless Kelly’s most recent album Sunset Motel is a presentation that is certain to have no sunset in itself among the band’s fans. It presents plenty to appreciate from start to finish. As already noted, that is due in no small part to some familiar (but not too familiar) sounds in its musical arrangements. The album’s lyrical themes collectively play their own part in the album’s presentation as does the album’s packaging. Each element is important in its own right, as has been noted. All things considered, Sunset Motel proves to be another enjoyable effort for all of Reckless Kelly’s fans. It is available now in stores and online. More information on Sunset Motel is available online now along with all of Reckless Kelly’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://www.recklesskelly.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/recklesskelly96

Twitter: http://twitter.com/recklesskelly

‘Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ Is A Special Landmark Event

Posted on October 26, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: Eagle Rock Entertainment

Jeff Beck is, without a shadow of a doubt, one of the most important figures in mainstream music’s modern history. He has spent half a century making music that has made fans of millions worldwide thanks to his solo work and his work as a member of the Yardbirds. Last summer, Beck celebrated that mark by entertaining audiences with a very special star-studded concert at Los Angeles’ famed Hollywood Bowl. That concert was itself recorded for beck’s fans worldwide and released earlier this month via Eagle Rock Entertainment on a variety of platforms. It goes without saying that this landmark concert event is one that Beck’s fans everywhere will appreciate. That is due in part to the concert itself. In the same vein, the show’s set list is just as important to discus as the concert itself, and will be discussed later. The liner notes included in the recording’s companion booklet round out its most important elements. One need not even mention the recording’s production values since they are of the utmost level, which is nothing new for Eagle Rock’s live recordings. Keeping all of this in mind, Jeff Beck: Live at the Hollywood Bowl proves to be a once in a lifetime concert that will appeal to every one of Beck’s fans around the world.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s recent release of Jeff Back’s Live at the Hollywood Bowl is a very special recording that every one of Beck’s fans around the world will appreciate. That is due in no small part to the concert’s very setup. While the recording’s title puts Beck’s name on the marquee, Beck is hardly the only major name on the bill. Aerosmith front man Steven Tyler joined ZZ Top front man Billy Gibbons, blues legend Buddy Guy, Jan Hammer and Jimmy Hall for a star-studded show that should have been sub-titled “Jeff Beck & Friends.” Beck’s fellow famed performers join him throughout the concert to perform some of his biggest hits as well as a handful of Yardbirds hits and some of their own well-known numbers. This ties directly into the concert’s set list, which will be discussed shortly. Staying on the topic of the concert’s presentation, having so many well-known names on one stage together makes the concert more akin to a festival show than just a single headliner’s show. That is a wholly positive element as it shows clearly the foundational importance of the show’s setup to the recording’s overall presentation. It is only one part of what makes the recording such a joy to experience. The concert’s set list is just as important to discuss in examining this recording as its very setup.

As already noted, the songs performed throughout the course of this 97-minute concert run a wide gamut. From Beck’s earliest solo material to his most recent to even some of the songs he recorded during his time with The Yardbirds and beyond, the concert’s set list features a wide range of music for audiences of all ages to enjoy. Included among Beck’s own compositions are ‘Shapes of Love,’ ‘Let Me Love You,’ ‘Beck’s Bolero’ and ‘Morning Dew’ from his 1968 solo debut album Truth as well as ‘Freeway Jam’ from his 1975 album Blow By Blow. Beck’s most recent record, 2016’s Loud Hailer even gets a trio of nods in the form of ‘The Revolution Will Be Televised,’ ‘Live in the Dark’ and the deeply emotional socially conscious work ‘Scared for the Children.’ As if those songs are not enough, the concert also includes a take on the Yardbirds’ classic hits ‘For Your Love,’ and ‘Over Under Sideways Down.’ ZZ Top and The Beatles even get their own tributes during the show’s run in the form of ‘Rough Boy’ and ‘A Day in the Life.’ The cover of Prince’s ‘Purple Rain’ closes out the concert and is easily the concert’s most powerful moment. Considering the wide range of music performed and acts represented throughout the set list, it should be perfectly clear by now just how important the concert’s set list is to its presentation. Just as the show’s set up does, the set list serves more as a celebration of music itself than Beck’s own music showing once more why this concert, which was marketed as a Jeff Beck concert, is such a special experience that is so much more than its title suggests. When the two noted elements are joined, they make the overall experience that much more special and enjoyable. Even with this in mind, the show’s set up and set list are only two of its most important elements. The liner notes included in the concert’s companion booklet are collectively important in their own right, too.

The liner notes included in Live at the Hollywood Bowl’s companion booklet, which were crafted by Alan Light, give audiences a concise preview of the concert before audiences take in even the first song either on DVD, Blu-ray or CD. Light even offers some personal insight from Beck about his minimalist approach to guitar solos, creating not only more respect for Beck, but also certainly generating plenty of discussion on that very topic among guitarists everywhere. Between that insight, the concert’s clear, concise summary and everything else included in the notes, it becomes clear in reading them why they are so important to the whole of the recording’s presentation. When this importance is considered alongside the importance of the recording’s set list and setup, all three collectively show why Live at the Hollywood Bowl is such an enjoyable and important glimpse into a landmark moment in Jeff Beck’s career. They make this recording one that is a wonderful celebration not just of Jeff Beck but of modern music.

Eagle Rock Entertainment’s recently released Jeff Beck live recording Live at the Hollywood Bowl is an important landmark performance from one of modern music’s greatest guitarists and some of his equally well-known musical friends. It is a recording that, like Beck’s own music, reaches across the musical universe and will appeal to countless numbers of audiences. That is due in no small part to that inclusion of Beck’s friends who are featured throughout the concert. The set list featured in the recording is just as important as the show’s guest list. That’s because it is just as diverse. The liner notes included in the recording’s companion booklet round out its most important elements. Each element is critical in its own way to the recording’s whole. All things considered, they make this recording a truly memorable concert experience that is certain to appeal to audiences everywhere. It is available now in stores and online. More information on Live at the Hollywood Bowl is available online now along with all of Jeff Beck’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://www.jeff-beck.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/jeffbeck

Twitter: http://twitter.com/jeffbeckmusic

More information on this and other titles from Eagle Rock Entertainment is available online now at:

Website: http://www.eagle-rock.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/EagleRockEnt

Twitter: http://twitter.com/EagleRockNews

Through Fire Announces New Live Dates

Posted on October 22, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Through Fire is headed back out on the road.

The band recently announced it will embark on a new headlining tour beginning Tuesday, Nov. 28 in Ringle, WI. The nearly three-week long tour, dubbed the “2017 Breakout Tour,” will see the band make its way through the Midwest and southwest through Dec. 16 in Omaha, NE. Dangerkids, Righteous Vendetta and American Sin will serve as support acts throughout the course of the tour.

Courtesy: Sumerian Records

Through Fire, which recently signed with Artist Group International management company, is touring on the strength of its two latest singles, ‘Breathe’ and ‘Where You Lie,’ both of which are included in the April 7, 2017 re-issue of the band’s 2016 album Breathe. The schedule for the band’s upcoming tour, which is in support of that recent re-issue, is noted below.

2017 Breakout Tour Dates

Nov 28, Q and Z Expo Center – Ringle, WI

Nov-29 Route 20 Outhouse – Racine, WI

Nov-30, The Basement – Columbus, OH

Dec 01, The Limelight – Peoria, IL

Dec 02, The Outland – Springfield, MO

Dec 03, The Warehouse – Clarksville, TN

Dec 04, Capone’s – Johnson City, TN

Dec 05, Madison Live – Convington, KY

Dec 08, Paper Tiger – San Antonio, TX

Dec 09, House of Rock – Corpus Christi, TX

Dec 10, Gas Monkey Bar & Grill – Dallas, TX

Dec 12, Blueberry Hill – St. Louis, MO

Dec 13, The Forge – Joliet, IL

Dec 14, The Annex – Madison, WI

Dec 16, The Waiting Room – Omaha, NE

More information on Through Fire’s upcoming live dates, its Breathe re-issue, latest news and more is available online now at:

Website: http://www.ThroughFireMusic.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/throughthefiremusic

Twitter: http://twitter.com/tfiremusic

To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment news and reviews, go online to http://www.facebook.com/philspicks and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog at https://philspicks.wordpress.com.

‘Infinite’ Proves Deep Purple’s Legacy Will Live On Forever

Posted on October 22, 2017 by philspicks

Courtesy: earMusic

More than 40 years ago Deep Purple first formed in Hertfordshire, England. Throughout the band’s life, it would see — like so many bands – its own share of highs and lows. Through it all, the band has managed to release some 20 albums, remaining one of the rock community’s most influential names along the way thanks to that body of work. The latest of those 20 albums, Infinite, saw its release worldwide early this past April via earMusic. It is yet more proof of why Deep Purple remains so influential almost half a century (if the band doesn’t disband, 2018 would mark its 50^th year) into its life. That is due in part to the musical arrangements presented throughout the course of the record’s 10 song, nearly 46-minute record. Those arrangements will be discussed shortly. The lyrical themes presented throughout the record are just as important to note as the album’s musical arrangements and will be discussed later. The bonus 90-minute “making of” featurette included in the album’s extended edition is also key in showing why Deep Purple is still such an influential band. Each element is critical in its own right to Infinite’s overall presentation. Each element serves in its own way why this album is more proof of Deep Purple’s influence. All things considered, this record shows without a doubt why Deep Purple remains an important part of the rock community and why it in itself is one of this year’s top new rock records.

Deep Purple’s latest full-length studio recording Infinite is a work that shows over its 10-song, 45-minute-plus run time why the band remains one of rock’s most influential acts almost 50 years after its formation. It also shows itself to be one of this year’s top new rock albums. That is due in no small part to the varied musical arrangements presented across that body. From beginning to end, the band keeps things fresh for its audiences. Case in point is the contrast of the sounds in the album’s first two songs, ‘Time For Bedlam’ and ‘Hip Boots.’ The prior crosses Deep Purple’s progressive and hard rock roots together into one arrangement for a work that grows on listeners more with each listen. The latter is more of a straight forward, radio-ready rock arrangement that, much like ‘Johnny’s Band’ takes listeners back to Deep Purple’s earliest days. The album’s latest single, ‘The Surprising,’ is another example of why the album’s musical variety is so important to its whole. Its arrangement is full on progressive rock. ‘On Top of the World,’ by comparison, is a solid, infectious blues-based arrangement that is just as entertaining as its counterparts. Between the variations in the arrangements noted here and those of the album’s other featured arrangements, those variations keep Infinite fully engaging and entertaining on their own. Of course as much as the arrangements do to ensure listeners’ continued engagement in this record, they are only one of the album’s elements that ensures that engagement. The album’s lyrical themes are just as varied as its musical arrangements.

The lyrical content presented throughout Infinite are just as varied as the record’s musical arrangements. The band even pointed that out through a series of videos explaining the songs ahead of the album’s release. Those videos are available now online via YouTube. The album starts off with a seeming socio-political commentary of sorts in ‘Time For Bedlam.’ That is inferred as front man Ian Gillan sings here “Right from the ashes of life I learned to behave/What to believe/What not to say from cradle to grave/Ah…like a good little slave/Sucking my milk from the venomous tit of the state/Clearly designed to suppress every thought of escape/Ah…I surrender to fate.” He continues in similar fashion in the song’s third verse and the song’s chorus, serving even more to create a picture seemingly of the noted statement. On a completely different wing, the album also presents at least one song centered on the familiar topic of broken relationships in ‘All I Got Is You.’ The album also features a polar opposite to that song late in the album’s run in ‘On Top of the World,’ which Gillan noted himself in one of the noted YouTube videos, was about a wild night in a hotel. ‘Hip Boots,’ the album’s second song, presents its own notable lyrical theme that seems rather happily defiant about something. It goes without saying that considering the variety of themes presented in the noted songs and the songs not noted here, this record presents just as much lyrical diversity as it does musical diversity. Keeping this in mind, that lyrical diversity is still not the last of the record’s most important elements. Its bonus content rounds out its most important elements.

The bonus DVD that comes with Infinite’s extended edition shows in its own right what makes the album so enjoyable (and the band still so influential) because it isn’t just another run-of-the-mill guerilla style “making of” featurette. It is a full 90-minute program, narrated by Yes’ own Rick Wakeman, that feels like a news report than just some off-the-cuff poorly recorded piece that so many of its counterparts prove to be. Audiences are taken into the band’s recording session with Producer Bob Ezrin to see firsthand how the album came together. Audiences will be wowed to see the civility and respect between Ezrin and the band members throughout the album’s creative process. Watching Ezrin at work with the band is like watching a maestro at work with a group of ace musicians, offering constructive criticism versus the criticism that he could have otherwise offered. It is such a breath of fresh air for a “making of” documentary to present such a distinguished experience. That experience in turn gives even more respect, going full circle here, for the music presented throughout this album. It also creates new respect for the band in whole because of that clear respect that its members have for one another, for Ezrin and that he has for them. Keeping that in mind, while the bonus material included with this album may not seem like much on the surface, it is in fact a very valuable addition to the album, showing even more why Deep Purple remains almost 50 years after its founding one of the rock community’s most respected and revered acts today. When this is considered along with the impact brought by the variety in the album’s musical and lyrical content, it becomes that much clearer why the band remains so respected and why this album is one of the year’s most respected rock records.

Deep Purple’s latest full-length studio recording Infinite is one of this year’s most valuable rock records. Regardless of whether or not it is the band’s last studio album, it can be said easily that it is even more proof of why Deep Purple is one of the rock community’s most respected acts today even almost 50 years after its founding. That is proven through the musical and lyrical variety presented throughout the album and the in-depth bonus material included in the record’s companion DVD. Each element is important in its own way in supporting those statements. All things considered, they prove without doubt that this is a record that every Deep Purple fan should own, the band’s last album or not. It is available now in stores and online. More information on Infinite is available online now along with all of Deep Purple’s latest news and more at:

Website: http://www,deep-purple.com

Facebook: http://www.facebook.com/officialdeeppurple

Twitter: http://twitter.com/_DeepPurple

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Monthly Archives: October 2017

Through Fire Unveils ‘Where You Lie’ Video

Saxon Announces New Retrospective, Live Recording; Joining Judas Priest Live

Pop Evil Unveils New LP’s Lead Single, Video; Announces New Live Dates

Ellefson Coffee Company To Mark Its Expansion Next Month With Hometown Party

‘Live in Prague’ Will “Score” With Zimmer’s Fans And Movie Buffs Alike

CMG’s ‘The Old Dark House’ Re-Issue Is Sure To “Scare Up” Plenty Of Fans

‘Sunset Motel’ Is A Shining New Reckless Kelly Album

‘Live At The Hollywood Bowl’ Is A Special Landmark Event

Through Fire Announces New Live Dates

‘Infinite’ Proves Deep Purple’s Legacy Will Live On Forever