Rock and Roll Purists Will Enjoy Big Engine’s Latest LP

Courtesy: Pavement Entertainment

Jacksonville, Florida-based rock band Big Engine will release its debut record for Pavement Entertainment August 19^th. The album, Shot Like a Rocket, is an album that provided it gets coverage from radio programmers, will be rather aptly titled. The fourteen songs that make up this record are a good fit for anyone that is a fan of classic rock from the late 80s and early 90s. Right from the album’s opener ‘Party Like a Rock Star,’ the band will instantly grab audiences with its straight forward, driving sound and equally no nonsense lyrics. The equally rocking ‘Burn It Down’ will have listeners singing and clapping along just as much whether in their living rooms, cars or at the band’s live shows. For all of the energy exuded by Shot Like a Rocket, it also has its more subdued moments. One of the most interesting of those tracks is titled ‘Not Your Fool.’ This track is quite the interesting piece considering the juxtaposition of its searing lyrical content against its more subdued musical side. These songs and the remaining nine not noted here come together to make Shot Like a Rocket a musical ride that any rock and roll purist will enjoy with every listen.

The members of Big Engine give quite the first impression on its Pavement Entertainment debut. ‘Party Like a Rock Star’ is an infectious, full on rock and roll anthem that will be a favorite among audiences whether they’re listening to it in their car or home or singing along with the band’s legions of fans at one of its live shows. The band’s founding members—Tony Mikus and Hans Oellerich—sing about the rock and roll lifestyle here, singing, “I’ve been waiting/For the weekend/To chase these blues away/I’m gonna set my soul in motion/Forget all about these bills I’ve gotta pay/I’m gonna call upon my good friends/Say meet me downtown/No matter where I’m going/It’s time to shake it up/It’s time to get down/I’m gonna sing along/To every song/All night long/Dance on the bar/And play our guitar/And party like a rock star.” This theme of just letting loose after the rigors of the work week is one to which so many people can relate. And who hasn’t wanted to just go all out like that, singing their favorite songs, playing their air guitar? The ability of the band to reach its audiences here both lyrically and musically leaves no doubt that this was the perfect choice for the band’s very first introduction.

‘Party Like a Rock Star’ was a no-brainer for a first impression from Big Engine for its new album. It’s only one of the songs from this record that serves as a solid example of what audiences can expect overall. Another good example of what audiences can expect from this record comes late in the record in the form of ‘Burn it Down.’ This piece has much the same energy as ‘Party Like a Rock Star’ and much the same theme of just letting loose. Mikus and Oellerich sing in this piece, “It’s too late to turn around/Gotta keep my head above ground/Gonna get crazy tonight/No sleep/Runnin’ on adrenaline/I can’t stop/No, I won’t give in/Rockin’ is our policy/And I don’t give apologies/Yeah, we’re gonna party tonight/Well we get a little crazy/And we raise a little hell/then we leave this town/With a story to tell/Gonna raise our mugs/yeah, yeah/We’re gonna drink ‘em down/yeah, yeah/We’re gonna fire it up/We’re gonna burn it down.” This classic lyrical rock and roll theme goes on throughout the remainder of the song. And again, the imagery is classic rock and roll in every way. It would be so easy to see a video companion to this song, with footage of the band out in random bars, playing on stage to huge crowds, etc. Not only that, but it’s just as easy to see this song being as anthemic as ‘Party Like a Rock Star.’ It’s one more of so many songs on this record that any rock and roll purist will enjoy on this record.

Both ‘Party Like a Rock Star’ and ‘Burn It Down’ are good examples of just how much Shot Like a Rocket has to offer audiences. There is one more example of how much this record has to offer audiences in ‘Not Your Fool.’ The song centers on a bad breakup. But the juxtaposition of its lyrics against its musical side is really what makes it stand out. Most songs that are centered on breakups generally have a relatively emotional musical backing. This song is no different in that arena. However, listening to the song’s lyrical side, one can’t help but wonder why the band didn’t option for something more up-tempo, musically speaking, in order to match the song’s searing lyrics. Mikus and Oellerich sing in this song, “You’ll find somebody new/With sympathetic ears/And arms open wide/Yeah someone new to use/Say what they wanna hear/Tear them up inside/And there’s so much I could say/And we could scream and shout/You know I could go on and on but/I’m not your fool anymore/I’ve been there too many times/To pick you up and say/It’s alright this time.” There’s a certain sarcasm and cynicism about these lyrics. And that vibe makes one feel like the song’s musical side should have more power about it. Ironically enough, the more subdued sound that takes its place actually makes it just as impactful. That’s because it creates more of a sense of someone being completely fed up with a certain situation. The end result is a song that has just as much power as any standard breakup song if not more power. That power shows why this song is one more prime example of what makes Shot Like a Rocket an album that any rock and roll purist will enjoy.

Big Engine will release its new album Tuesday, August 19^th. In celebration, it already has a handful of live shows scheduled for August. The first of those dates is a two-night stand at The Legendary Boot Hill Saloon in Daytona Beach, FL on August 22^nd and 23^rd. The band will be in Homosassa, Florida on August 24^th and Sanford, Florida on August 31^st. Audiences can keep track of Big Engine’s tour schedule and all of its latest news online now via its official website, Facebook page, Twitter page, and Reverb Nation page. To keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news, go online to the Phil’s Picks Facebook page and “Like” it. Fans can always keep up with the latest sports and entertainment reviews and news in the Phil’s Picks blog.

Tempt’s Debut EP Is A Guilty Pleasure For Any Fan Of Big Hair And Even Bigger Rock

Courtesy: Chipster PR

Indie rock band Tempt recently released its debut EP Under My Skin.  The New York based band’s debut record is something special, especially for fans of bands such as Def Leppard, Journey, Poison and others of that ilk.  The band’s members—Zach Allen (vocals), Harrison Marcello (guitar, keyboards, vocals), Jimmi Kane (drums), and Zak Gross (bass, vocals)—are way too young to have grown up in the 80s.  But the sound that the band’s members collectively craft is one that displays such respect for the music of the era.  It truly makes Tempt quite the rarity in the current era of rock music.  The band transports audiences back to that era of big hair and equally big rock songs right off the top in the EP’s title track.  That pomp and bombast doesn’t let up even in the slightest as the band moves into the EP’s second song.  The song exhibits something of a Queensryche influence circa Rage for Order.  And on the EP’s penultimate track, the 8-s big hair influence keeps rolling before the band closes things with a standard 80s ballad-style song.  All things considered, anyone that is a fan of big rock and big hair will agree after hearing this EP that Under My Skin is one of the best of the year’s new EPs.

The members of Tempt look to be far too young to have grown up in the 80s.  That hasn’t stopped the band from crafting an EP loaded with music that sounds like it has been kept in a time capsule for ages and pulled right from that era of big rock and big hair.  This is obvious right off the top in the EP’s opener and title track.  If one didn’t know any better, one would think this was Def Leppard, Journey, Poison, or another major name act that had its heyday in that era.  Lyrically speaking, the song centers on the standard subject of a broken relationship.  What’s most interesting about it here is not just the standard over-the-top nature of the song, but [Zach] Allen’s vocals on the song.  He sings much in the same style as other big name vocalists from the day as he sings, “Stop and start many years ago/You was a looker that I/Got to know/Now I’m sitting here/The pain won’t die/With the letter saying you’ve left my side.”  There is just a certain quality to his vocal style.  And the song’s chorus brings about even more of that classic song style with the rest of the band joining in almost the same style as the aforementioned bands.  It is pure retro rock joy for fans of that sound.

The first impression that the band makes on its brand new EP is just the beginning of the retro rock joy for fans of hair metal.  ‘Use It Or Lose It’ comes second on the disc.  Those that are more familiar with bands from the era of hair metal will hear influences from the likes of Queensryche right from the song’s opening riff and the chorus style vocals.  The song is just as good a follow-up to ‘Under My Skin’ lyrically as it is musically.  That’s because it follows a similar lyrical theme.  Allen sings here about a woman that is bad news for all intents and purposes.  He sings in the song’s opening verse, “She’ll steal your soul/Drag your mind through pouring rain/Take you down into the dark/She don’t feel no pain/But if I turn my back/Would you turn your eyes on them/Are you ready/Let the games begin.”  He goes on to sing of the woman in question in the song’s second verse, “She’s a one-of-a-kind/A storm within a name/A natural disaster/But I want her just the same.”  As with the EP’s opener, the style of Allen’s vocals and the song’s musical side together make this song sound like something right out of the 80s.  And again, that taken into consideration fans of that sound will welcome this song in with arms and ears wide open.

Both ‘Under My Skin’ and ‘Use It Or Lose It’ are impressive additions to the debut EP from Tempt. The third of the EP’s tracks, ‘The Fight’ instantly conjures thoughts of Journey and other more melodic rock bands of their time. Its forward-driving sound and infectious chorus of “It’s the fight that makes us stronger, baby/We both know you can see” will have audiences singing along in no time whether it be in their vehicle on the road or in their own living room/bedroom. Along with the previously noted songs, this song is just as much an arena anthem as them and the EP’s closing number. Allen and his band mates are seemingly singing about the fight that we have within ourselves to not give up. In this case, it seems to be the fight to not give up on a relationship. If that be the case, then the song takes quite the upbeat turn from so many songs rooted in relationship issues. It actually argues that there is hope for a relationship that would otherwise be broken. That and the song’s musical side together make this one of the EP’s best numbers. And together with the EP’s previously noted tracks, it makes the EP even more worth the listen especially by anyone that grew up a fan of the era of big hair and big rock. Audiences can listen to the title track from Under My Skin now via Tempt’s official website at http://www.temptband.com/#!listen/c1x9v.

Under My Skin can be purchased online via iTunes and Amazon.com or at the band’s next live performance. The band is next scheduled to perform live Friday, July 18^th at the Knitting Factory in Brooklyn, New York. Audiences can keep up with the band’s tour schedule and all of the band’s latest news online both through its official website, http://www.temptband.com and its official Facebook page, http://www.facebook.com/TemptBand. Audiences can also keep up with the latest from the band through its Twitter page, http://twitter.com/temptband and its Reverb Nation website, http://www.reverbnation.com/temptband. 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.

KingShifter’s Debut LP Takes The Top Spot As 2013’s Top New Hard Rock Record

Courtesy: Pavement Entertainment/Pavement Music

2013 has been a good year for hard rock and metal.  New releases from the likes of Holy Grail, Black Sabbath, and Sevendust have made this a great year for the metal masses the world over.  Now with the release of its debut full length LP via Pavement Entertainment, Wichita, Kansas based KingShifter has just made the hard rock landscape that much more interesting.

KingShifter’s debut full length release, 26 Tons is an aptly titled record.  This eleven-track record is a heavy-hitting wrecking ball of hard rock.  From start to finish the album’s energy lets up only once.  That one time is in the near minute and a half acoustic piece, ‘.00125 lbs. (The Year of the Rat).  Other than that single moment, every other song on this record makes it one of the best debut records from a rock band (either mainstream or indie) in a very long time.  Its combination of hard hitting guitar licks, drums, and equally scathing lyrics make it a record that any purist metal head will appreciate.  And it all starts early on in the form of, ‘Revolution Generation.’  Front man Sprout sings about what’s happening to the country today.  From the epidemic of companies and doctors working together to sell their drugs, to the issue of school violence, Sprout runs the gamut.  Along the way he and his band mates wave a defiant musical flag declaring, “If we don’t do anything now/We’re soon to be doomed/We’ve got to stand strong/We shall not be moved/We are Americans/And we have proof/That we survived/The taxes, fiscal cliffs, and all of the wars/We’re here to tell you now/We won’t take it anymore!”  The song’s declaration of pride and self-empowerment is a call to arms and an anthem for a whole new generation.  And given the right support, could very well be the opening salvo in what breaks this band into the mainstream.

If ‘Revolution Generation’ isn’t enough example of what makes this a solid debut from KingShifter, then perhaps the equally hard rocking and defiant (yet far shorter) ‘STFU (& Die Already)’ will.  This punk styled piece comes in at just under two minutes long.  In that short time, this song hits just as hard as ‘Revolution Generation’ and any of the album’s other songs.  It is an intense song that goes after the news media—Sprout sings, “Television/I wanna burn it down”—and all of the negativity that clots television today.  In connection, he notes in no uncertain terms the effect that television has on people and his displeasure on the matter.

KingShifter’s debut record has plenty of social commentary and hard rock.  For all the commentary that it offers, there is some lighter material on this record, too.  Case in point, ‘Downin’ Booze – Raisin’ Hell.’  This song is a party song.  It’s an anthem for the blue collar workers across the country.  The influence from hard rock supergroup HellYeah is quite obvious both lyrically and musically in this song.  This is clear in the song’s second verse as Sprout sings, “I’ve been inside/Of this dirty cage/Locked inside for five whole days/I’ve gotta ease my mind/And leave that bulls*** behind/This ******’s gonna go on a rage!”  With such high energy lyrics and equally high energy music, this song is more than certain to become just one of so many fan favorites and fan anthems both on KingShifter’s record and at its live shows. 

The songs noted here are just a few examples of what listeners can expect from Kingshifter’s upcoming debut record.  There is much more that audiences will appreciate throughout the album.  So much more could be written of 26 Tons.  But to do so would require more time and space than is available.  Simply put, given the chance by radio programmers and by Pavement Entertainment, 26 Tons could make Kingshifter one of the next big names in hard rock.  The album will be available in stores and online Tuesday, September 3^rd.  Fans can hear just some of the band’s music now online at the band’s official Reverb Nation page, http://www.reverbnation.com/kingshifter.  There’s even a music video from the band on its page, too.  Audiences can also check out the band’s music on its official MySpace page, http://www.myspace.com/kingshifter.  And to keep up with all of the latest news from the band, fans can follow the band on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/KingShifterRock and on its official website, http://www.kingshifter.com. 

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.

The Morning After Updates Fans On New Album, More

Courtesy: The Morning After

Raleigh, North Carolina’s The Morning After is one busy band.  The indie folk/rock band is hard at work on its sophomore record and touring in support of its debut record, Starless Nights at the same time.  The band will perform live at Turntable in Jamestown, NC on Saturday, June 29^th.  It will also perform a hometown show live on July 4^th at The Works in downtown Raleigh.  The band is scheduled to go on at 5pm. 

On a more bittersweet note, the band has announced that bassist Jamie Dawson has left the band.  According to a statement released by the band, Dawson’s departure was fully amicable.  It notes that he left to spend more time with family.  He has been replaced by Lindsey “Hometeam” Tims.  The full statement from the band on Dawson’s departure and the upcoming new album can be read online at the band’s official Reverb Nation website at http://www.reverbnation.com/c/fr5/artist_848646?eid=A848646_17664812_.

Audiences can keep up with all of the latest news and tour information from The Morning After online at http://www.facebook.com/morningaftermusic, http://twitter.com/rkandthema and http://www.reverbnation.com/morningaftermusic. 

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.