The Winery Dogs Debuts New Single’s Video; Announce New Live Dates

Courtesy: Three Dog Music/Burnside Distribution/The Orchard

Rock super group The Winery Dogs continued the buildup for its upcoming third album, III, this weekend with the debut of a new video and announcement of a new tour.

The band premiered the video for its new single, ‘Mad World’ Friday. The premiere came a month after the band debuted the video for III‘s debut single, ‘Xanadu.’ Where ‘Xanadu’ immediately conjures thoughts of classic Rush in its opening bars before launching into more of a sound and style that blends modern and vintage rock, ‘Mad World’ is more of a pure neo-classic rock style composition.

Front man Richie Kotzen’s Chris Cornell-esque vocals are just as clear and strong here as ever while bassist Billy Sheehan’s work on bass and equally famed drummer Mike Portnoy’s work on the kit continue to put their talents on full display once again.

In regards to its lyrical theme, Kotzen said during a recent interview, the song is a social commentary of sorts.

“The song is dealing with a certain attitude or way of thinking forced on individuals regardless of your own life experience or unique individuality,” Kotzen said. “I remember a time where opposing opinions and viewpoints were more accepted. A good old healthy debate was a great thing back then.

He added, “This song is really shining a light on how there may be certain consequences to pay if you don’t think a certain way. It’s also reflected in the lyric, ‘You’d better bite your tongue so you sound the same.’ It also offers a glimmer of hope in its chorus with the line ‘Turn from a scar into a pearl.’ So it’s not all doom and gloom. There’s always a chance to turn things around.”

In other news, The Winery Dogs are set to launch a tour in support of III Feb. 15 in Greensburg, PA. The tour is set to run through Apr. 6 in Nashville, TN. Following the conclusion of the North American leg of the tour, the band will perform at a trio of festival shows in South America April 27 28, and 29.

A European tour will follow the South American festival shows starting June 6 in Hamburg, Germany. The European leg of the band’s tour is scheduled to run through June 27 in La Rochelle, France.

The band’s complete spring/summer tour schedule is noted below.

DATE               CITY                             VENUE

Wed 2/15          Greensburg, PA            Palace Theatre

Thu 2/16           Jim Thorpe, PA             Penn’s Peak

Fri 2/17             Glenside, PA                 Keswick Theatre

Sat 2/18            Patchogue, NY              Patchogue Theatre

Tue 2/21           New York, NY               Sony Hall

Wed 2/22          Baltimore, MD               Rams Head Live!

Thu 2/23           Sayreville, NJ                Starland Ballroom

Sat 2/25            Ridgefield, CT               The Ridgefield Playhouse

Sun 2/26           Derry, NH                      Tupelo Music Hall

Wed 3/1            Columbus, OH               The King of Clubs

Thu 3/2             Cleveland, OH               The Agora Theatre

Fri 3/3               Wabash, IN                   Eagles Theatre

Sun 3/5             Green Bay, WI               Epic Event Center

Mon 3/6            Minneapolis, MN            Fine Line Music Café

Thu 3/9             Milwaukee, WI               Pabst Theater

Fri 3/10             St. Charles, IL               The Arcada Theatre

Sat 3/11            Westland, MI                 Token Lounge

Mon 3/13          Grand Rapids, MI          DeVos Performance Hall

Tues 3/14          Harrison, OH                 Blue Note

Fri 3/17             Dallas, TX                     Amplified

Sat 3/18            Cedar Park, TX             The Haute Spot

Sun 3/19           Houston, TX                  Warehouse Live Ballroom

Tue 3/21           New Orleans, LA           House of Blues

Wed 3/22          Birmingham, AL            Iron City

Fri 3/24             St. Petersburg, FL         Jannus Live

Sat 3/25            Ft. Lauderdale, FL         Culture Room

Sun 3/26           Orlando, FL                   The Plaza Live

Thu 3/30           Virginia Beach, VA        Elevation 27

Fri 3/31             Hopewell, VA                The Beacon Theatre

Sat 4/1              Leesburg, VA                Tally Ho Theater

Sun 4/2             Charlotte, NC                The Underground

Tue 4/4             Asheville, NC                Orange Peel

Wed 4/5            Knoxville, TN                 The Mill & Mine

Thu 4/6             Nashville, TN                 Brooklyn Bowl

Thu 4/27           Rio de Janeiro, Brazil     Vivo Rio (with Stone Temple Pilots)

Fri 4/28             Curitiba, Brazil               Tork n Roll (with Skid Row)

Sun 4/3             São Paulo, Brazil           Summer Breeze Festival 

Mon 6/12          Hamburg, Germany                   Markthalle

Tue 6/13           Zoetermeer, Netherlands            Boerderij

Thu 6/15           Dessel, Belgium                        Graspop Festival

Fri 6/16             Wolverhampton, England           KK’s Steelmill

Sat 6/17            Nottingham, England                 Rock City

Sun 6/18           London, England                       Shepherds Bush Empire

Tue 6/20           Cologne, Germany                     Kantine

Wed 6/21          Frankfurt, Germany                    Batschkapp

Thu 6/22           Milan, Italy                                Alcatrazz

Sun 6/25           Cartagena, Spain                      Rock Imperium Festival

Tue 6/27           La Rochelle, France                   Crossroads

More information on The Winery Dogs’ new single, video, tour, and album is available along with all of the band’s latest news at:

Website: https://www.TheWineryDogs.com

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/TheWineryDogs

Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheWineryDogs

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

BPMD’s ‘American Made’ Covers Collection Is Entertaining, But Hardly Memorable

Courtesy: Napalm Records

Covers collections are among the most peculiar releases that musical acts of any genre can release during their careers.  Unlike singles compilations, which in their own way, actually serve a purpose – that purpose being that they could lead new audiences to pick up an act’s albums in whole – covers compilations serve little if any purpose.  They are just collections of songs that acts put together to “pay tribute” to other acts and make money in the process.  They are really just space fillers that acts use in order to satisfy contractual obligations for album release numbers.  Keeping that in mind, one can’t help but wonder why respected and talented musicians, such as Bobby Blitz (Overkill), Mike Portnoy (ex-Dream Theater, The Winery Dogs, Transatlantic, Sons of Apollo, Liquid Tension Experiment, etc.), Phil Demmel (ex-Machine Head, Vio-lence) and Mark Menghi (Metal Allegiance) would come together just to create a compilation of cover songs for what is right now its first and only release.  The 10-song compilation, titled American Made, is scheduled for release Friday through Napalm Records.  It does delve into music from some notable bands who have come before this hard rock supergroup dubbed BPMD.  That dichotomy of the bands whose music is covered versus the band performing said songs does make for at least some interest at best.  This item will be addressed a little later.  The specific arrangements of said songs is certain to be its own discussion point.  They will be discussed later, too.  Each item noted here is important in its own right to the whole of this compilation.  All things considered, American Made proves itself to be a record that while worth hearing at least once, is sadly anything but memorable.

Hard rock super group BPMD’s debut recording American Made is a recording that is worth hearing at least once, but sadly not much more than that.  One of the record’s only saving graces is the contrast of the bands whose works are covered to the band performing said covers.  The bands whose works are covered throughout this roughly 37-minute collection include, but are not limited to Aerosmith, Ted Nugent, Lynyrd Skynyrd, ZZ Top, and Grand Funk Railroad.  Even Mountain gets its own recognition here.  Simply put, the bands whose works are covered here are in a realm that is completely opposite of the bands from which BPMD’s members have come.  Blitz is front man of the veteran thrash metal outfit Overkill.  Portnoy spent the majority of his professional career keeping time for the famed prog-metal outfit Dream Theater.  Even the other projects in which he has taken part have been in genres directly opposite of that of the covered bands.  Much the same can be said of Demmel and Menghi.  Considering the contrast of the resumes of BPMD’s members and the bands that they cover here, that in itself is worth at least engagement for audiences.  It shows that the band was willing to go out on a limb and do something different than what they normally do in their dayjobs.  One could also argue that maybe it is a display of the acts that influenced the band’s members.  If that’s that case, then the group has definitely gone far from those influences over the years, again making for its own share of discussion for listeners.  To that end, that contrast of the band’s collective background and the bands that this group covered does at best a little bit for the collection.  Directly tied to those discussions is the discussion on the collection’s one unavoidable negative, the very fact that it is a covers collection.

It has already been noted here that the members of BPMD have decidedly outstanding resumes.  So to that end, it is just baffling that considering the band members’ pedigrees, the group’s first impression of sorts would be a collection of songs that have been covered time and again by so many other acts.  These men are elite figures within the hard rock and metal communities.  It made audiences hope for something original right out of the gate so to speak.  Instead, the group opted to essentially phone it in and put out a covers compilation.  Had the group gone that route of releasing a debut loaded with original content first and then this record later, it would have made the compilation easier to accept. What’s more, unlike the case of Fozzy, which also started off with a collection of covers so long ago, it has to be assumed that BPMD is just a one-off project for its members.  At least in the case of a band, such as Fozzy, it was known that said band’s debut was just the beginning for that act.  This knowledge detracts from the draw of American Made.  It essentially makes the compilation come across as little more than a cash grab for the band and nothing more.  Keeping that in mind, this unavoidable aspect of American Made makes it difficult to call this record memorable.  While this aspect cannot be ignored, it does not make the album a complete failure for the group.  BPMD’s take on the record’s songs makes for its own share of engagement.

One of the most interesting updates that the band features in American Made is that of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Saturday Night Special.’  BPMD’s update does largely stay true to its source material by and large.  The amped up re-imagining also gives the song a new identity and feel, needless to say.  It gives the song more of a 1980s hair metal type of sense.  Whether fans love or hate this one will be left to them, but it is definitely an interesting take, needless to say.  BPMD’s update of Aerosmith’s ‘Toys in the Attic’ is another key addition to the collection.  As with the band’s cover of Lynyrd Skynyrd’s ‘Saturday Night Special,’ this cover also stays largely true to its source material.  It just once again gives the cover an amped up remake.  The song even goes so far as to include Joe Perry’s guitar solo from the original work.  It’s just weird hearing Bobby Blitz’s gritty vocals and the full-on hard rock re-imagining here.  That aside, this update actually works almost as well as the original.  BPMD’s cover of Grand Funk Railroad’s ‘American Band’ is another important addition to this compilation.  The band’s take once more does strive to stay true to its source material, and it is certain in its own right to create a lot of discussion among listeners.  That’s because while it does stay true to the source material, it seems to have trouble balancing its attempt to echo the song’s classic rock sound and the band members’ own hard rock and metal leanings.  It is definitely going to have listeners talking.  That is not to say that the song is a total loss or that any of the compilation’s works are losses.  The songs will certainly leave listeners talking, though.  Between the discussions insured through the musical updates and the very lineup of featured bands, which could actually lead some listeners to embark on musical journeys into catalogs of bands to which they otherwise might not have listened, the compilation proves itself worth hearing at least once.  To that end, the compilation is not a total failure.  However, one cannot ignore the fact that considering the resume of each of BPMD’s members, this just seems like little more than a cash grab.  To that end American Made makes itself worth hearing at least once, but anything but an American classic itself

BPMD’s covers collection American Made is a headscratcher of a record.  The first release from the hard rock super group, it will potentially lead some listeners to take their own journeys into the catalogs of the record’s featured bands.  The songs that are covered here play even more into that potential musical journey of discovery, as the covers will definitely lead to lots of discussion among audiences.  For all of the positives that the record’s featured bands and songs generate, one still cannot ignore the very issue that the band’s members are among the music industry’s elite figures.  To that end, coming together for potentially just one record and making said record a covers collection will leave a somewhat bitter taste in many listeners’ mouths, so to speak.  It leaves one feeling like this was just a rushed, phoned in work that was little more than a cash grab for the band’s members.  Keeping all of this in mind, the record proves itself worth hearing at least once, but sadly not much more than that.  American Made is scheduled for release Friday through Napalm Records.  More information on American Made is available along with all of BPMD’s latest news at:

 

 

 

Website: http://bpmdmusic.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/bpmdofficial

 

 

 

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

Madame Mayhem Debuts ‘Breaking Down’ Lyric Video

Courtesy: FM Music/The Fuel Music

Independent rock artist Madame Mayhem debuted the video for her latest single this week.

Madame Mayhem (a.k.a. Natalie Ann Cohen) debuted the lyric video for her new single ‘Breaking Down‘ Friday.  The song features a melodic hard rock arrangement that will appeal to fans of bands, such as Breaking Benjamin, The Veer Union and other similar acts.

The song’s lyrical content comes across as a message about someone who has gone through much difficulty in life, but ultimately refuses to give up despite experiencing those trials.  This is inferred late in the song as she sings, “I am not breaking down this time.”  The energy in her vocal delivery emphasizes that resolve, adding to its impact.

According to information provided about the new song, Cohen co-wrote the song with Brian Vodihn (10 Years) and enlisted Grammy-nominated producer Johnny K (Finger Eleven, Disturbed, Megadeth) to produce the song.  He is just one more of the big names who played a part in the song’s creation.

The information provided about the new single states Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Mr. Big), Jason “J Bomb” Harrison and keith Wallen (Breaking Benjamin) also took part in the song’s creation.

‘Breaking Down’ is available to stream and download through Spotify, iTunes, Google Play, and Amazon.

More information on Madame Mayhem’s new single and video is available along with all of her latest news at:

 

Website: http://www.madamemayhem.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MayhemOfficial

 

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

 

ZFG Announces New Live Dates

Courtesy: O’Donnell Media Group

Independent rock band ZFG is hitting the road next month.

The band, which features the lineup of Trev Lukather (son of founding Toto member Steve Lukather), Sam Porcaro (son of original Toto bassist Jeff Porcaro), Josh Devine (One Direction) and vocalist Jules Galli, will join Adelitas Way and The Winery Dogs for a series of live dates running from April 17 – May 31.

The tour is in support of the band’s new self-titled EP. The band debuted the lyric video for the EP’s latest single, ‘Special‘ last month.  The video places the lyrics for the song in various places and situations throughout the backdrop of a busy city.  The song’s musical arrangement is a composition that will appeal largely to fans of rock from the late 80s and early 90s.

The first portion of the tour runs from April 17 to May 12, and features performances scheduled in cities, such as  Joliet, IL; Denver, CO and Heath, OH. Once the band wraps that schedule, its members will take some time off to rest and recharge before heading back out on May 25 with The Winery Dogs.

ZFG’s tour with The Winery Dogs is currently scheduled to run from May 25 to May 31 and features performances in cities, such as Anaheim, CA; Las Vegas, NV and Beverly Hills, CA.

ZFG’s current tour schedule is noted below.

ZFG w/ Adeltias Way “What it Takes” Tour Dates:

4/17 Houston, TX @ Warehouse Live
4/19 Austin, TX @ Come and Take it Live
4/20 Dallas, TX @ Gas Monkey
4/24 Heath, OH @ Muddy Creek Saloon
4/26 Tucson, AZ @ Pima County Fair
4/27 Easton, PA @ One Centre Square
4/28 Buffalo, NY @ Iron Works
5/1 Pittsburgh, PA @ Crafthouse
5/2 Flint, MI @ Machine Shop
5/3 Battle Creek, MI @ Music Factory
5/4 Joliet, IL @ The Forge
5/5 Madison, WI @ Majestic Theater
5/8 Chippewa Falls, WI @ Every Buddys
5/9 Minneapolis, MN @ Fine Line
5/10 Lincoln, NE @ Bourbon Theatre
5/11 Denver, CO @ Marquis
5/12 Colorado Springs, CO @ Black Sheep

ZFG w/ The Winery Dogs “Who Let The Dogs Out” Tour:

5/25 Las Vegas, NV – Vamp’d
5/28 Sacramento, CA – Crest Theater
5/29 Santa Cruz, CA – Rio Theater
5/30 Anaheim, CA – The Grove
5/31 Beverly Hills, CA – Saban Theatre

More information on ZFG’s upcoming tour schedule is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

 

Website: http://www.ZFGband.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/zfgband

 

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.

 

Madame Mayhem Debuts New Single, ‘Broken’

Courtesy: FM Management

Madame mayhem released her new single this week.

The veteran rocker debuted her new single ‘Broken’ on Friday.  The song was co-written with Keith Wallen (Breaking Benjamin) and features guest performances by Ray Luzier (Korn) on drums and Billy Sheehan (The Winery Dogs, Bozzio Levin Stevens, David Lee Roth) –and others — on bass.

‘Broken’ is streaming now on Spotify, and can be purchased via iTunes and Apple Music.

Madame Mayhem is currently scheduled to appear at the National Association of Music Merchants (NAMM) 2019 showcase Jan. 24-27 at the Anaheim Convention Center in Anaheim, California.  More information on the showcase is available here.

More information on Madame Mayhem’s new single is available online now along with all of her latest news and more at:

 

Website: http://www.madamemayhem.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/MayhemOfficial

 

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.

Sherman’s Studio’ “Concert” Is A Performance Of A Lifetime

Courtesy: PBS/Public Media Distribution

This year was another strong one for live recordings.  Between recordings released in bundles and those released either as standalone CDs or DVDs/BDs, the recordings that serve audiences who might have otherwise not been able to take in a live show, proved on both fronts to be largely solid offerings.  Given, there were some disappointments including Jane’s Addiction’s latest live recording Alive at Twenty-Five and the archived Les Paul tribute concert Live From Universal Studios Hollywood.  For the most part though, this year’s field of new live recordings — both on CD and DVD/BD — has proven to be quite impressive as has already been noted in the previous live recordings lists.  Keeping that in mind, it is only fair, having noted the best live CDs and best new live DVDs and Blu-rays to present one list of the year’s best new overall live recordings.

This year’s best overall live recordings pull from both audio and audio-visual fields, proving that recordings can be enjoyable in both arenas.  Topping this year’s list of best live overall recordings is PBS’ in studio “concert” from Richard Sherman, one half of the famed Sherman Brothers creative team, Songs of A Lifetime.  Slipknot’s new live recording Day of the Gusano is on this list, too thanks to the combined impact of its CD and Blu-ray presentation.  Of course while Alter Bridge, Jon Cleary and Experience Hendrix, LLC all released new recordings that were CD only, they deserve their own spot on the overall list.  Eagles of Death Metal’s new live recording Live at the Olympia Paris also deserves to be on that list along with The Rolling Stones’ new From The Vault offering Sticky Fingers Live at the Fonda Theatre 2015 — again because of the overall impact of its audio and audio/visual sides.  It’s just one more on that list.

As with every previous list, this entry offers this critic’s 10 best new titles in the category along with five additional honorable mention titles for a total of 15 titles.  Enough rambling.  Without any further ado, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks 2017 Top 10 New Live Recordings.

PHIL’S PICKS 2017 TOP 10 NEW LIVE RECORDINGS

1. Richard Sherman: Songs of a Lifetime
2. Slipknot — Day of the Gusano
3. Mumford & Sons — Live in South Africa
4. Between The Buried & Me — Coma Ecliptic Live
5. Jon Cleary — Live at Chickie Wah Wah
6. Curtis Knight presents Jimi Hendrix — Live at George’s Club 1965 & 1966
7. Eagles of Death Metal — Live at Olympia Paris
8. The Rolling Stones — From The Vault: Sticky Fingers Live at The Fonda Theatre 2015
9. Foghat — Live at the Belly Up
10. Black Sabbath — The End
11. Jeff Beck — Live at the Hollywood Bowl
12. The Who — Live at the Isle of Wight 2014
13. The Winery Dogs — Dog Years — Live at Santiago & Beyond 2013 – 2016
14. The Who — Tommy Live at Royal Albert Hall
15. The Dead Daisies — Live & Louder

That’s it finally for the live recordings categories.  Up next will be the year’s top new albums overall.  It’s going to be an interesting list, needless to say as it may well change before it even gets posted up in the next day or so, so stay tuned!  Also on the way is a handful of lists for the year’s new DVD and Blu-ray titles including box sets for families and for grown-ups as well as family DVDs and Blu-rays.  Stay tuned!

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.

PBS’ Richard Sherman Studio “Concert” Hits All The Right Notes For Phil’s Picks’ 2017 Top 10 New Live DVDs/BDs List

Courtesy: PBS/Public Media Distribution

Experiencing a live performance by one’s favorite acts is a special experience.  The sights and sounds — from the performance itself to the enjoyment and excitement experienced alongside other fans — come together to make the live experience something almost as magical as it is memorable.  Of course it’s not always that easy to have that experience because of work, family or maybe other items.  Enter the live DVD and Blu-ray.  These recordings are pivotal for audiences the world over because people don’t always get to see their favorite acts.  They also often prove to give audiences an experience that is at least slightly different from that offered in their CD counterparts.  Keeping that in mind, it is fully justifiable for critics to present lists of the year’s top new live DVDs and Blu-rays as well as live CDs.  That is exactly what this critic is doing here.

This year, as with so many years past, Eagle Rock Entertainment has proven to have the majority of the year’s top new live DVDs and Blu-rays, once again proving why it is the leader in live recordings.  Of course it is not the only label represented in this critic’s list this year.  Live recordings from The Winery Dogs, The Dead Daisies, and even famed songwriter Richard Sherman (one half of the famed Sherman Brothers creative team) are all on the list, too alongside new material from Between The Buried and Me and Michael Schenker.  Those noted recordings are all from other labels.  In other words, this year saw a healthy range of new live DVDs and Blu-rays.  With that in mind, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks’ 2017 Top 10 New Live DVDs and Blu-rays.  As always, the list includes this critic’s Top 10 choices as well as five additional honorable mention titles, for a total of 15 titles.  Let’s go!

PHIL’S PICKS 2017 TOP 10 NEW LIVE DVDS/BDs

1. Richard Sherman: Songs of a Lifetime
2. Tedeschi Trucks Band — Live From The Fox Oakland
3. Slipknot — Day of the Gusano
4. Mumford & Sons — Live From South Africa
5. Between The Buried and Me — Coma Ecliptic
6. Black Sabbath — The End
7. Jeff Beck — Live at the Hollywood Bowl
8. The Rolling Stones — Sticky Fingers Live at the Fonda Theatre 2015
9. The Who — Tommy Live at the Royal Albert Hall
10. The Winery Dogs — Dog Years: Live in Santiago and Beyond 2013 – 2016
11. Eagles of Death Metal — I Love You All The Time — Live at the Olympia Paris
12. Sting — Live at the Olympia Paris
13. Spock’s Beard — Snow Live
14. The Dead Daisies — Live & Louder
15. Michael Schenker — Michael Schenker Fest Live Tokyo International Forum Hall

That’s all for this list and still not all for the live recordings.  Still to consider is the whole of the combo packs and the standalone recordings.  In other words, there is still a list of the year’s top new live recordings overall to consider.  Also still on the way are the year’s top new albums as well as a handful of DVD and Blu-ray lists.  As many as possible will be covered before the year lets out, so stay tuned for all of that.

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.

Rare Hendrix Archived Live Recording Takes Top Honors On Phil’s Picks 2017 Top 10 Live CDs List

Courtesy: Dagger Records/Experience Hendrix, LLC

Experiencing live concert events is not an easy thing in this day and age.  Between the collective costs of attending (I.E. pricey tickets, gas, souvenirs, possible lodging, food & drink, etc.), perhaps the general lack of time to attend depending on circumstances, or maybe the very fact that audiences’ favorite acts didn’t include certain cities on their tours, there is a lot that plays into the inability to attend live events.  Keeping this in mind, not all hope is lost, thanks to all of the live recordings released each year by so many acts.  Some are released as full bundle packages while others are released just as DVDs or Blu-rays.  Some are even released solely on CD.  Regardless of the platforms, the availability of so many live recordings is unquestionably important for audiences.  Staying on that topic, the live CDs made available are worth noting in their own right.  That is the the case regardless of whether or not said CDs are bundled with DVD or Blu-ray counterparts.  That is because, again, even if the CDs come alongside a live audio visual component, that audio only component can and does oftentimes, translate differently than DVD and Blu-ray recordings.  Keeping this in mind, Phil’s Picks is offering a list of the year’s top new live CDs.

Included in this year’s list are standalone CD recordings and CDs included as part of bundles.  The titles featured in this year’s list include live recordings from Curtis Knight, Jon Cleary, Alter Bridge, The Dead Daisies and many others.  Simply put, they run the gamut from one genre to another across the musical universe.  Topping this year’s list is Dagger Records and Experience Hendrix, LLC’s new Jimi Hendrix recording Curtis Knight featuring Jimi Hendrix Live at George’s Club 20 1965 & 1966.  This live recording features performances by Hendrix well before he became an international superstar — performances that showed his talent even then.  Also included in this year’s list are recordings from Foghat, Alter Bridge, Armored Saint and others.  As is the case with every Phil’s Picks year-ender, this list features the top 10 best new titles plus five additional honorable mention titles for a total of 15 titles.  Staying on that note, here for your consideration is Phil’s Picks 2017 Top 10 New Live CDs.

PHIL’S PICKS 2017 TOP 10 NEW LIVE CDs

1. Curtis Knight feat. Jimi Hendrix — Live at George’s Club 20 1965 & 1966
2. Alter Bridge — Live at The 02 & Rarities
3. Jon Cleary — Live at the Chickie Wah Wah
4. Foghat — Live at The Belly Up
5. Between The Buried and Me — Coma Ecliptic Live
6. Armored Saint — Carpe Noctum
7. Slipknot — Day of the Gusano
8. Black Sabbath — The End
9. The Rolling Stones — Live at The Fonda Theatre 2015
10. The Who — Live at the Isle of Wight 2014
11. Jeff Beck — Live at the Hollywood Bowl
12. The Winery Dogs — Dog Years Live in Santiago & Beyond 2013 – 2016
13. Def Leppard — …And There Will Be A Next Time
14. Joe Bonamassa — Live at Carnegie Hall
15. Fates Warning — Awaken The Guardian Live

That’s it for this list, but not for the live recordings lists.  Still on tap in this category is the year’s top new live DVDs and BDs as well as the year’s top new live recordings overall.  Before getting there though, there is at least one last list in the form of the year’s top new albums overall.  That one’s coming soon, so stay tuned.

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.

‘Dog Years’ Ensures Engagement, Entertainment With Simplicity, Song Balance

Courtesy: Loud & Proud Records

Early next month, rock super group The Winery Dogs will release its latest live recording Dog Years to the masses. The recording, which includes both a live 15-song (17 if one counts drummer Mike Portnoy and bassist Billy Sheehan’s solos) set and a bonus 5-song studio EP is an impressive new live effort from The Winery Dogs.  That is due in part to both of the noted elements and the trio’s performance of the noted set list.  Each element is important in its own right to the recording’s overall presentation.  All things considered, they make Dog Years a work that proves to be one more of this year’s top new live recordings.

The Winery Dogs’ latest new live recording Dog Years is an enjoyable new offering from the rock super group, and easily a candidate for a spot on any critic’s list of the year’s top new live recordings.  That is due in part to its 15-song (again, 17 if one counts the two solo segments) set list.  The set list, which runs approximately 98-minutes, pulls almost equally from both of the band’s current albums.  The band’s self-titled debut is represented with seven songs while Hot Streak gets eight nods.  Considering the fact that The Winery Dogs boasts a total of 13 songs, that representation means that the band treated it Chilean audiences with more than half of that album in the concert presented in this recording.  That in itself is well worthy of its own share of applause.  The same applies to the band’s latest full-length studio recording.  Eight of its 13 total songs are represented in this live recording.  As with The Winery Dogs, that selection means that once again the band pulls from more than half of Hot Streak, too.  The result of that set list is a show that gives audiences a very healthy representation of the band’s body of work today.  This is more than worth its share of applause.

On a related note, the sequencing of the show’s rich set list is just as important to note as the set list itself.  Audiences will note in the set list that the band never sticks to one album or the other for far too long at one time.  The longest span that each album sees in this set list is two songs.  In other words, the band ensures audiences engagement not just with the set list but also with its sequencing.  The pairing of these factors does plenty to keep the concert entertaining and engaging.  The pairing makes the elements collectively just one of the key elements to discuss in examining this recording.  The band’s performance of the set list is just as important to note as the set list and its sequencing.

The band’s performance of the concert’s set list is so important to note because without a solid performance, there would be little to talk about here.  Audiences will be happy to know that the band’s performance of the concert’s set list is just as solid as the set list itself and its sequencing showing that it is possible to have an enjoyable live experience without unnecessary pyro and other elements.  Front man Richie Kotzen and company waste little time between songs with any idle rambling opting instead to keep the show’s energy flowing from one song to the next.  There are some brief interludes between songs, but for the most part, the band keeps things moving swiftly, explaining why the show’s run time comes in at just under two hours.  Add to the concert’s constant transitions the energy in each musician’s performance, and audiences get a show that will completely enthrall them.  From Kotzen’s own energy to Mike Portnoy’s driving tempos that barely let up to Sheehan’s own solid low-end and fiery performance, audiences get plenty to applaud even from the comfort of their own homes.  The entertainment and engagement ensured through the band’s performance couples with the show’s set list in all of its aspects to strengthen the concert’s presentation even more.  They are not the recording’s only key elements either.  The bonus five-song Dog Years EP is just as important to note in examining the recording’s presentation as the show’s set list and the band’s performance.

The bonus give-song Dog Years EP that comes with The Winery God’s new live recording is just as important to note in examining this recording’s presentation as the concert’s set list and the band’s performance thereof.  The EP is important to discuss because none of the songs featured on the disc are included in the concert or on either of the band’s current albums.  Odds are the blues-based songs are works that didn’t make the final cut for one of both of those records.  That is a positive to note because if that is indeed the case, then the inclusion of the songs here completes even more the listening experience for both records.  Regardless of whether or not that is the case, their inclusion still adds plenty to the overall experience of this live recording.  That is because one could easily argue that they present a sense of additional encores from the concert, despite being studio tracks.  Keeping this in mind, the bonus EP that comes with Live In Santiago more than proves itself as an important piece of the recording’s overall presentation.  When it is considered along with the concert’s set list and the band’s performance thereof, the whole of these elements gives audiences plenty to bark about. No, this review could not be completed without that intentionally awful pun or a variant thereof.  That aside, the whole of the noted elements makes Dog Years in whole an easy candidate for a slot on any critic’s list of the year’s top new live recordings.

The Winery Dogs’ latest live recording Dog Years is a work that any critic should have on his or her list of the year’s top new live recordings come December.  That is due, as already noted, in part due to the concert’s set list.  The set list pulls relatively equally from both of the band’s current albums and never sticks to one album or the other for too long. The band’s performance of the set list adds just as much entertainment to the concert thanks to the energy put into the performance by each band member.  The bonus five-song EP that is included with the recording is a virtual multi-song encore for fans who didn’t’ get enough from the extensive audio-visual experience presented in the live recording.  Each element clearly plays its own important part in the overall presentation of Dog Years.  All things considered, this recording proves fully deserving of a spot on any critic’s list of the year’s top new live recordings.  More information on Dog Years is available online now along with all The Winery Dogs’ latest news and more at:

 

 

 

Website:  http://www.thewinerydogs.com

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/thewinerydogs

 

 

 

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 Winery Dogs To Release New Live Recording This Summer

Courtesy: Loud & Proud Records

The Winery Dogs are set to really heat things up this summer with a new live recording.

The band will release its new live recording Dog Years: Live in Santiago and Beyond 2013-2016 Friday, August 4 via Loud & Proud Records.  The recording will feature live recordings from the band’s past four years of live shows.  It will be available both in a standard 2-disc CD platform as well as a special deluxe edition.

The recording’s standard 2-CD platform features a Blu-ray that includes 100 minutes of concert footage as well and music videos from both of the band’s two current albums The Winery Dogs (2013) and Hot Streak (2015).

It also includes a companion EP featuring a handful of previously unreleased songs that didn’t make the cut on those albums.  Pre-orders for the standard edition are open now here.

The recording’s extended five-disc platform includes everything featured in its standard two-disc platform. As a bonus, it also includes two CDs containing live concert audio. Pre-orders are available now here.

Dog Years: Live in Santiago and Beyond 2013 – 2016 is not The Winery Dogs’ first live recording.  Unleashed Live in Japan 2013 was included with the deluxe edition of the band’s debut album, and featured 10 songs recorded during the Japan leg of the band’s 2013 tour in support of that album. The album’s deluxe edition was released Nov. 11, 2014.

The track and video listing for Dog Years: Live in Santiago and Beyond 2013 – 2016 is noted below.

LIVE IN SANTIAGO:

1. Oblivion

2.  Captain Love

3.  We Are One

4.  Hot Streak

5. How Long

6.  Time Machine

7.  Empire

8.  Fire

9.  Think It Over

10.  Mike Portnoy Drum Solo

11.  The Other Side

12.  Billy Sheehan Bass Solo

13.  Ghost Town

14.  I’m No Angel

15.  Elevate

16.  Regret

17.  Desire

MUSIC VIDEOS:

Elevate

Desire

Time Machine

I’m No Angel

Oblivion

Captain Love

Hot Streak

Fire

DOG YEARS EP:

1.  Criminal

2.  The Game

3.  Solid Ground

4.  Love Is Alive

5.  Moonage Daydream

Audiences can view a trailer for Dog Years: Live in Santiago and Beyond 2013 – 2016 hereonline now .  More information on Dog Years: Live in Santiago and Beyond 2013 – 2016 is available online now along with all of the band’s latest news and more at:

 

 

 

Website: http://www.thewinerydogs.com

 

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

Twitter: http://twitter.com/thewinerydogs

 

 

 

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.