Tom Keifer has been quite busy touring in support of his highly acclaimed solo record, The Way Life Goes. If you don’t already have it, do yourself a big favor and pick it up. It is filled with rockin tracks featuring his beloved signature vocals and emotionally driven lyrics. It truly takes you on a musical journey highlighting emotions and heart felt songs while satisfying your need for rock.
Tom recently played at the Whisky a GoGo in Hollywood last month. This was a show that we had anticipated for months and were so excited for. Unfortunately, with my mother’s health taking a bit of quick turn, we stayed close to home. Our colleague Linda Emord of Eye Shutter 4 U made it out to the show and check out her photos from his spectacular set:
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We had the chance to interview Tom several days after his show and are pleased to bring that interview to you here:
Make sure to check out our interview with Tom from last year shortly after the release of his album. You can read it here:Tom Keifer is on Solid Ground with his new solo album.Make sure to visit his social media sites and stay up to date on his latest news.
The amazingly talented Quinn Archer is set to bring her Rock n Soul to the legendary Whisky a Go-Go next Monday, September 8th, 2014. Quinn’s vocals carry so much emotion and depth, she will feed your soul with her smoldering style. Take a listen to her single, Dark Places:
The song is real and full of raw emotion which is quite rare to find in music these days. She successfully brings a strong connection to the listener as she takes you on a ride through her emotionally driven songs. The song is the title track of her EP which is available on iTunes here. If you are in the Southern California area, I would highly recommend you catch her performance at the Whisky on the 8th.
Make sure to visit her social media sites so you can stay up to date on her latest news.
Tom Keifer has been busy touring in support of his highly acclaimed solo record, The Way Life Goes. He has been releasing videos for songs off his album. Have you seen the lyric video for It’s Not Enough?. Check it out here:
I h ave been not-so-patiently waiting for a West Coast show from Tom and I don’t have too much longer to wait! Tom has announced a show on October 26th at the legendary Whisky a GoGo in Hollywood. I am so happy and can’t wait to see Tom perform his great songs from his solo record as well as Cinderella hits.
So mark your calendars and we hope to see you all there. Music Junkie Press will be there and make sure to bring you all the coverage. We will see if we can bring you a new interview with Tom. In case you missed it, I will leave you with a repost of our interview with Tom from last last year here:
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Music Junkie Press:Hi Tom, Thank you for taking the time out to talk with us here at Music Junkie Press.
We have been enjoying your solo record, “The Way Life Goes” and we can’t wait to see you out here on the West Coast. Do you have any upcoming plans to play out here in California?
Tom: Well, we were just out there in May, when we did the Canyon Club and in Anaheim at the House of Blues. But I am sure we will be coming out that way again. We are actually on a break from the tour at the moment. We have been touring off and on since February, way before the record was released so we are in a bit of a rest period. Other than that, we are playing this week at the NFL Hall of Fame Induction Celebration in Canton.
Music Junkie Press:We got to see for the taping at That Metal Show and you were great on it. Was that your first time on the show?
Tom:Yes, that was the day before we played at the Canyon Club in Agoura Hills. I have known Eddie for a long time, I love Eddie. I have talked to him a lot on his radio show but hadn’t done That Metal Show yet. It was a lot of fun.
Music Junkie Press:You were great on the show! Now, your album is filled with passionate and emotionally driven songs, do you have a particular songwriting process or ritual?
Tom: Well, I try to write from real inspirations and it always starts from a lyric for me. Even the hard and heavy songs that you would think that started on guitars actually started from lyrics. So that inspiration can come at any time, you can be driving down the road or in aisle 6 at Home Depot. You got this idea in your head and then you are racing for an instrument to try and figure out what you are hearing. I will hear a lyric, a song title, or a chorus or line or something usually with a melody and it grows from there.
Music Junkie Press: I know that all songs tend to be like our children, we can’t play favorites but which song on your album might be the one closest to your heart or that special one?
Tom:I think the most special one isThick and Thin. I wrote that for my wife Savannah when she was going through a really hard time and it was just my thing that I will always be there for her.
Music Junkie Press:That is a beautiful song. How about one of my favorites, “You Showed Me”, what is the story behind that song?
Tom: Well that is actually the flip side of what I just said. I wrote that for Savannah because she was there for me when I went through a hard time.She was my person who was always there for me so that was my thank you to her, where as in Think and Thin,that was me telling her that I would always be there for her.
Music Junkie Press: Those songs are incredible and beautiful together. How old were you when you started playing music ?
Tom:I first started playing guitar when I was 8 years old. I saw the Beatles on television and also started at that early age watching The Monkees on TV. I loved their songs and I loved Mike Nesmith guitar playing and that is when I first started playing guitar. My Mom had a teacher come to the house and I learned acoustic guitar and the basic chords, and the teacher would make me sing while I played. Then a few years later I heard Led Zeppelin and the Rolling Stones and that is what really took me down the road to rock and hard rock stuff. That was the 70’s and there was so much incredible inspiration at that time for a young musician learning how to play. I could list the bands, probably all day from the 70’s that inspired me. There were just so many. From Lynyrd Skynyrd to the Eagles to Janis Joplin, and Rod Stewart, Deep Purple, Aerosmith, Heart, Fleetwood Mac. It just goes on and on, it was such a great time for music. Also progressive stuff too like Kansas and Yes. Great time for music and that is when I learned about writing, playing and singing.
Music Junkie Press:Can you remember what is the first song you learned how to play in its entirety?
Tom:In its entirety? I don’t know, but I remember when I first starting playing guitar, an older kid in the neighborhood taught me the electric guitar riff tor Sunshine of Your Love. I didn’t even really know the song, I just heard him playing and said, “That is cool sounding and can you show me how to play that?” and he showed me and of course I struggled to play because it was the first electric, plugged in, blues rock riff I ever played.
Music Junkie Press:That is a great song too! With musicians there are all kinds of milestones, ; first concert, first recording but we all know with guitarists a major milestone, which is do you remember your first Les Paul?
Tom: My first Les Paul was and Ibanez copy and it was like a black copy of a Gibson custom. That held me over for a while but I had my eye on a real Gibson custom Les Paul that was hanging on the wall at the local music shop and my Mom actually used that to bribe me to finish high school. I was not the most academic and I had some challenges with academics and she, being a very wise woman, knew that was like the Golden Ring for me, and said if I got through high school she would buy it. And she did and I still have it today. That was my first real Gibson.
Music Junkie Press:Yes, I believe that there should be a place on Facebook for the milestone of when someone gets their first Gibson Les Paul! In the past 20 years, with the technology advancing at a such a rapid rate, with the addition of the internet, social sites, digital cameras, etc is there something from today that you wish you had when you were growing up.
Tom:Not really. No, not really at all, To be honest, I think we have too much today.
Music Junkie Press: Personally for me it would be the cell phone instead of carrying around pocket full of change to call home if I was late.
Tom:The first cell phone I saw back in the 80’s, I went WOW,that is like the Jetsons, I got to have one of those so I bought one. Of course this was like early in the game so the thing cost like a grand and the monthly service fee was insanely expensive. We all remember those old analog ones. I was one of the first kids on the block to have one because I thought, Oh cool, we are like the Jetsons now. To me now, I think back to the simpler time when it was just the phone on the wall with the coil chord and like Joe Walsh says, “Just leave a message and maybe I’ll call”. I don’t like this anyone can get to you anywhere, anytime, through a cell phone, through text, through Facebook, through email, There are so many ways of communication, I mean it is convenient but I think it also splinters our focus a little bit. It is a catch 22. It is kind of what the song “Fools Paradise” is about on the new record.
Music Junkie Press: Yes, especially with the younger generation. I feel they don’t go out as much as we did, they tend to communicate through all these different ways but yet not as much on a personal contact level. It has become harder to get them offline and out there to shows. Do you have advice to get them out from behind their computers/devices?
Tom:Are you referring to the people who just back and watch everything on Youtube?
Music Junkie Press:Yes, that too. Even buying music, they just download one song. There used to be such an excitement level when you went into the record store, put on the headphones and found new music. You buy the album, the tangible product and now they just pick up a song and that is it.
Tom: Well I think every generation has their way and it is not wrong. I think that what would probably help people to be more into whole works of arts or records is that artists create whole works of art or whole records. Like a Physical Graffiti or an Exile on Main Street, or Hotel California – are some of the ones I grew up on. Or Fleetwood Mac Rumors, Aerosmith’s well of them; Toys in the Attic. Those were incredible albums from beginning to end. I think there are still some artists that still do that but I think with the shrinking budgets at record companies, artist development isn’t what it used to be, recording budgets are nott what they used to be. So I think less and less we are nott getting great full albums. That is the Catch- 22 of the lost revenues from downloading. I don’t know that the average listener out there or fan realizes that by swiping music you kind of hurt the art itself and record companies. I mean, I know everyone views the record companies as the big evil corporate thing or whatever but there is a lot of good that comes from them too. They do help to develop artists and back in the 60s, 70 s and the 80s when we were coming up, they stayed with you and they developed you. They made sure you were working in the best studios, working with the best engineers and the best producers and that is a good thing. That is how you get great albums. That still goes on today, don’t get me wrong, I just think it is less artists get the opportunity for that because of the budgets and the mentality of the record companies have changed, due to lost revenues and we all know why. There are many reasons of why that has happened and a lot of that has to do with the technology we have. The second the first audio file transmitted over the internet we were really all sunk. In terms of what the door it had opened up for causing problems within the industry.
Music Junkie Press: Yes, I agree. With the good the internet brought, it also brought a lot of evils and the downside of it. We were all excited about it and didn’t think of all the bad things it brought as well.
Tom: There are conveniences. I remember back when if you had wanted to get a song to someone or a file to someone, it was called Fed EX. Now, I love the convenience of if I have a song and I need to send it someone, a musician or the record label, I can just BOOM, send an email but obviously that has opened the door for people to be able to steal music or listen to music anytime they want and it has affected the whole business. I am not just talking about the artist’s and the record company’s pockets, I mean obviously peopled deserve to be paid fairly for their music but I think not a lot of people realize how much that actually affects the money going back into developing talent as well. That is the flip side of that and to me is the bigger side of the issue.
Music Junkie Press: If we could peak into your iPod/mp3 player what would we be most surprised at seeing in there?
Tom:I like everything. I still listen to all my old favorites from the 70s, a lot of the bands I just mentioned and those artists cause me to dig back even further to Blues, real authentic blues stuff. I listen to Son House ,and Robert Johnson, and Muddy Waters, and all that stuff that I have more of an appreciation for. And then coming into more current stuff, really current, is Imagine Dragons, Bruno Mars. I have the utmost respect and admiration for someone that can sing like him. I mean he is incredible. There has been some hard rock acts that I have liked in some recent yearsl Buckcherry, I think is really bad ass. The first two Jet Records I just love, I thought they were just incredible, high energy hard rock records. Unbelievable angst in the vocals, high energy tracks and just really great stuff. So there are a few there that I like.
Music Junkie Press: Those are all great artists to be listening to and Jet just delivers some solid nonstop energy on those albums. We love the video for Solid Ground which has us excited to see you live, are you working on any more videos from the album?
Tom:We have talked about doing one for The Flower Song. I think at some point we will probably do something for that one.
Check out the Video for Solid Ground:
Music Junkie Press: If you could go back to your 14 year old self, what advice would you give to yourself?
Tom: Hmmm, I don’t know. Honestly I think I could turn that around. I think my 14 year old self could probably give myself today some good advice, and that would maybe be to stop and smell the flowers a little more.
Music Junkie Press: That is awesome! Best answer yet. We are always looking back at how we could change things but if we kept our insight back then.
Tom: Ya, Kids do. I mean because I have a 9 year old son now, and I will be stressing out all day taking of business and working, and I watch him and he is not even thinking about the clock. In terms of wisdom, there is a probably a lot I could learn from my 14 year old self. Obviously it works the other way around too but there is something very pure about the wisdom of youth. I question around and say that I could probably think I could have learned something from 14 year old me.
Music Junkie Press: I always wonder if we would even listen to advice we give ourselves! I know most 14 year olds would not even listen to our own advice!
Tom: That is the problem. I actually had that thought and lost it and you brought it back to me. You are right, we don’t listen. Because I tell him things all the time and he just looks at me like “I got it covered Dad, don’t worry”. I am like alright, come talk to me when you are thirty.
Fan submitted question from Ryan: What does a band have to do to catch your eye and make them your new favorite band in today’s world?
Tom: I don’t know. Man, if I could just state that in a couple sentences, I could just put it in a bottle and sell it. I am thinking in every decade there has been different launch methods for artists. I think some of them remain the same throughout the years. I think radio is still a very powerful thing. Obviously in this day and age, social media and Youtube are very powerful. Youtube, I guess is what MTV was for us in the 80s. Fans can go on 24/7 and see their favorite artists constantly, videos, live videos, shows. You name it. That is kind of what MTV was for us only it blasted into your living room.
Music Junkie Press:Ya, we had to wait a while to get it in our area but I remember being glued to the set the first weekend we had it.
Tom:Yes, we were too. We were amazed by it and some of the videos were very clever back then. I still love watching a lot of those early videos. It is what created the whole MTV meeting the music, that visual, it was in the 80s the first time that there was that huge visual aspect. I think it is what created the whole over the top imagery that we all had. And not just the rock bands, but even with the pop stars, I mean look at Cindy Lauper, Madonna, Boy George. Everything, from an image standpoint was just tenfold over the top. I think MTV created that because we were all on film.
Music Junkie Press:Yes, I remember watching and seeing what they were wearing and wanting to dress like them. I remember my 80’s clothes or cut up shirts, so much fashion and fads came from them. It was no longer someone just singing on an album. It was incredible, you got to see them, how they look, dress, act.
Tom:Yes, It was a very creative colorful time because of that visual and everyone was trying to take it to the next level and over the top. It was all genres of music and ultimately, it is what toppled it because it started to become the focus. I mean in the media, or at least the critics, the focus was more on the image and that somehow took away from the music. But NO, actually the music still holds up, so the focus got placed on that imagery because it was so over the top. I think, t was the thing that ultimately toppled the whole thing.
Fan submitted question from Kristi: When you are touring what is your favorite meal to have?
Tom:Usually when I am on the road, it is a pretty physical and intense high energy show so I usually eat light on a show day. And on a day off, it is kind of like I get as much food as I can. I like something pretty heavy, like a nice steak and potato, to kind of refill the reservoir.
Fan submitted question from Vito: What is your biggest pet peave?
Tom:We all have lots of those. My biggest one? I am just going to be very general and just say hypocrisy. It is my biggest pet peeve. There is nothing more annoying than someone saying one thing and doing another so I am just going to go with a very general concept.
Music Junkie Press: I know you just released this album, but we would love to know if you are planning on doing more solo work?
Tom:Yes, we are just getting started. We have another rock single being released I believe in September, is the impact date of that one. Cold Day in Hell is that one. The label will continue t work the Flower Song as a single and we will be getting back out on the road. We are kind of in the middle of the break right now. Like I said, we toured from February and ended about the end of June, right after the Letterman performance. We wanted a little bit of a break and we will be getting back on the road soon.
Music Junkie Press: We are going to be sharing all your social media links and where everyone can pick up their copy of ‘The Way Life Goes” Lastly, is there anything else that you would like to share with our audience?
Tom: I would just like to thank the fans that have supported, not only my solo stuff here but Cinderella over the years. They are who we make the music for and they are the ones who keep it alive. It is greatly appreciated the support and the energy that they have shown to us over the years.
Music Junkie Press:Thank you very much for your time Tom and your album is definitely one I play from start to finish! Thank you for your great gift of music!
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I am looking forward to catching Tom when he is out on the road again. If you haven’t already make sure to pick up your copy of The Way Life Goes which is available everywhere! Get your copy and then let me know which is your favorite song!
One of our favorite guitarists, Cat from State Line Empire was recently featured on EMGtv performing his song Deus Ex Machina which is off his upcoming solo record, Marigold Project. We have been big fans of State Line Empire as they consistently deliver shows with a 150% energy and are true crowd pleasers. Cat is always there to shred away but in his recent spotlight, you will really get blown away by his performance. Check out the video from EMGtv with Cat performing Deus Ex Machina:
Cat is using the EMG 81 and 60 humbucker pickups. “I have been using EMG pickups for ever. I find that they are responsive and cut through perfectly. Richie Faulkner turned me on to the 57/66 sets which are mind blowing. Best pickups and best company!!!“, Cat explains.
Make sure to stay tuned for his solo record and also visit the social media sites of State Line Empire to catch their next show. Earlier this year, State Line Empire opened up for Skid Row to a sold out crowd at the legendary Whisky a Go Go in Hollywood. You can check out our coverage which includes an interview, photos, and videos here. State Line Empire will be returning to the Whisky on October 15th to open for Gus G. It is going to be another great show, so make sure to pick up your tickets early. You can get more details on their Facebook page.
Check out a tribute made by Rockin Ryan with footage from their shows:
If you don’t have it yet, make sure to pick up their new EP “Raise Your Sins“, available on Itunes. They just have everything you are looking for in a rock and roll band with a hint of metal strewn right in. You can read more about their EP review we did in September here. Their new EP is filled with rockin hits and it is a bit heavier but also just enough old school touches to keep everyone happy.
Visit their social media sites and stay up to date so you won’t miss any State Line Empire news.
SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators have been quite busy out on tour with Aerosmith for the Let Rock Rule World Tour 2014. But in September for a few select dates, it will be all about SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators as they takeover iconic Sunset Strip nightclubs for headlining shows. They will be celebrating the release of their highly anticipated album, World on Fire which is set to release on September 16th through Slash’s own label Dik Hayd International, distributed through Caroline- also celebrating the 50th anniversary of Guitar Center.
The three one-night only performances are scheduled as:
Tue September 23 The Troubadour
Thu September 25 The Roxy
Fri September 26 The Whisky A Go Go
Tickets for all shows go on-sale August 1 at www.SlashOnline.com. “We’re excited to unleash ‘World On Fire’ in a big way and be a part of Guitar Center’s 50th celebration,” says SLASH. “They’ve been really supportive of me since the very beginning on the Sunset Strip.”
Slash featuring Myles Kennedy and the Conspirators
Fans can be a part of history as Guitar Center will present SLASH featuring Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators“Live From the Roxy,” to be broadcast on national television on DIRECTV’s Audience Network (Ch 239) November 9th at 8pm. The 90-minute full rock concert will be filmed in stunning 4k and 5.1 surround sound. Fans can enter to win a VIP trip for two to see The Roxy show and take home an Epiphone Les Paul signed by the legendary guitarist, visit guitarcenter.com/slash to win.
Check out the upcoming tour dates on the Let Rock Rule Tour here:
Fri 8/1 Scottsdale, AZ Talking Stick Resort & Casino *
Sat 8/2 Las Vegas, NV MGM Grand Garden Arena
Fri 8/8 Stateline, NV Lake Tahoe Outdoor Arena At Harvey’s
Wed 8/13 Concord, CA Sleep Train Pavilion
Fri 8/15 Coquitlam, BC, Canada Hard Rock Casino – Vancouver *
Sat 8/16 George, WA The Gorge Amphitheatre
Tue 8/19 Denver, CO Pepsi Center
Fri 8/22 Dallas, TX American Airlines Center
Mon 8/25 The Woodlands, TX The Cynthia Woods Mitchell Pavilion
Thu 8/28 Atlanta, GA Phillips Arena
Fri 8/29 Hollywood, FL Seminole Hard Rock Hotel & Casino *
Sun 8/31 Atlantic City, NJ Boardwalk Hall
Wed 9/3 Newark, NJ Prudential Center
Sat 9/6 Bristow, VA Jiffy Lube Live
Tue 9/9 Clarkston, MI DTE Energy Music Theatre
Fri 9/12 Sydney, NS, Canada Open Hearth Park
* Indicates Headlining shows
Check out the lyric video for the title track, which is available on iTunes:
So mark your calendars for September 16th for the album release and make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news.
The bad ass new rock band, California Breed featuring legendary vocalist/bassist Glenn Hughes, drummer extraordinaire Jason Bonham and 23 year old newcomer guitarist/singer/songwriter Andrew Watt have made their debut performance! Last night California Breed played to a sold out crowd at the legendary Whisky a GoGo in Hollywood.
One thing was for sure, the Whisky was the place to be at last night. Our contributor Linda Emord of Eye Shutter 4U told us more about the night, “California Breedis amazing & they just rocked the Whisky a Go Go last nite! Glenn hit notes that could have shattered glass. Jason Bonham, well, it’s Jason! What an amazing performance, each & every song! Newcomer, Andrew Watt? I was completely blown away by his talents! How many guitars does that kid have anyway? What a high powered musician! This is one band you do not want to miss!”
Their self titled new album was released a little over a week ago on Monday May 19th through Frontier Records. It was produced by Dave Cobb (Rival Sons, Jamey Johnson, Shooter Jennings) and recorded at his Nashville studio and features equal co-writing credits among the three man power rock group. The band performed the album in its entirety as well as a few select cover songs. Check out the set list here:
The Grey
Chemical Rain
Sweet Tea
Invisible
Scars
Solo
All Falls Down
What is and What Should Never Be (Led Zeppelin cover)
Strong
Spit You Out
Breathe
Medusa (Trapeze cover)
Days They Come
The Way
Midnight Oil
Encore:
Immigrant Song (Led Zeppelin cover)
Burn (Deep Purple cover)
Take a look at a slide show of photos from Linda Emord of Eye Shutter 4u of their set at the Whisky:
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Check out their first single off the album, “Sweet Tea”. Sweet Tea definitely kicks ass as it brings to life the big ’70s sounds of rock that we miss! Glenn’s vocals just take you on a ride and it has some killer guitar work on it. You can check out the video here:
So keep your eyes open for more tour dates because you don’t want to miss them! They truly know how to write well crafted songs that will have us all rockin out! Make sure to visit their social media sites so you can stay up to date on their latest news.
We recently brought you our coverage of State Line Empire as they delivered a Killer set at the DNA Lounge in San Francisco opening for Black Star Riders and Skid Row. You can read our coverage of that night here: State Line Empire at DNA Lounge. We then headed down to catch them perform at the legendary Whisky a GoGo, opening once again for Skid Row. It was great to return back to the Whisky and it was another night filled with solid rockin sets!
We had the chance to chat with State Line Empire before their set and are pleased to bring that interview to you here:
The Whisky was packed and it ended up being a SOLD OUT show! State Line Empire were on fire as they wowed the crowd with their rock n roll. It was awesome to talk with several of the crowd goers who had never heard of SLE and they were glad they got to see them. They were looking forward to catching them again. That is one thing for sure, if people were seeing State Line Empire for the first time, they definitely look forward to seeing them again. They even played a new song, Kill It With Fire, which was a bad ass new track! We really look forward to their new album.
Check out Rockin Ryan’s photos from their set at the Whisky:
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If you don’t have it yet, make sure to pick up their new EP “Raise Your Sins”, available on Itunes. They just have everything you are looking for in a rock and roll band with a hint of metal strewn right in. You can read more about their EP review we did in September here. Their new EP is filled with rockin hits and it is a bit heavier but also just enough old school touches to keep everyone happy.
Visit their social media sites and stay up to date so you won’t miss any State Line Empire news. I will leave you with a couple videos of State Line Empire for you to enjoy!
We recently brought you our coverage of Australian rockers Ragdoll as they performed last Saturday night at the Whisky a GoGo. You can read more about that night here: Ragdoll at Whisky A GoGo. They were in town to open for legendary rockers Skid Row and it was an awesome night and they put on a excellent set. Ragdoll have returned to the the US in support of their upcoming release, Ragdoll Rewound which is a compilation of Ragdoll‘s first two releases (‘Ragdoll Rock’ and ‘Here Today’) plus four live recordings, one of which is a new composition, “Rewind Your Mind.” The album is set to release later this week on May 23rd. This powerful trio are creating a strong rock and roll sound worthy of your attention. Ragdoll is Ryan Rafferty on Lead Vocals/Bass, Leon Todd on Guitar and Cam Barrett on Drums.
Ragdoll has just released a fun animated comic style video for their song, Tell Me which you can find on their Ragdoll Rewind CD. Check out the vide3o here:
We had a chance to talk with Ragdoll after their set at the Whisky and take them around the Sunset Strip a shoot a couple fun photos. Check out our interview with Ragdoll:
Ragdoll will be performing at Rocklahoma as well as other US Rewind Your Mind Tour Dates. Visit the Ragdoll website for a complete list of upcoming shows. Make sure to visit their social media sites, pick up your copy of Rewind Your Mind and stay tuned for more rock and roll from Ragdoll.
We recently brought you our coverage of Australian rockers Ragdoll as they performed last Saturday night at the Whisky a GoGo. You can read more about that night here: Ragdoll at Whisky A GoGo. They were in town to open for legendary rockers Skid Row and it was an awesome night and they put on a excellent set. Ragdoll have returned to the the US in support of their upcoming release, Ragdoll Rewound which is a compilation of Ragdoll‘s first two releases (‘Ragdoll Rock’ and ‘Here Today’) plus four live recordings, one of which is a new composition, “Rewind Your Mind.” The album is set to release later this week on May 23rd. This powerful trio are creating a strong rock and roll sound worthy of your attention. Ragdoll is Ryan Rafferty on Lead Vocals/Bass, Leon Todd on Guitar and Cam Barrett on Drums.
We had a chance to talk with Ragdoll after their set at the Whisky and take them around the Sunset Strip a shoot a couple fun photos. Check out our interview with Ragdoll and Rockin Ryan’s photos from the Sunset Strip:
Ragdoll put on a solid rockin set filled with energy that had the crowd on their feet. It is great to see how a trio can create such a powerful sound and breathe fresh new life into rock and roll. They all have great stage presence, with Leon jumping around and getting the crowd fired up, Ryan captivating the crowd with his vocals and Cam was spot on his precision drumming, all while the three of them were smiling at the crowd. You can really tell that these three love what they are doing and they are exactly where they belong; on the stage. Check out the slide show of photos by Rockin Ryan from their set (you can also check them out on Rockin’ Ryan’s Facebook Album)
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Ragdoll will be performing at Rocklahoma as well as other US Rewind Your Mind Tour Dates. Visit the Ragdoll website for a complete list of upcoming shows. Make sure to visit their social media sites, pick up your copy of Rewind Your Mind and stay tuned for more rock and roll from Ragdoll. I will leave you with some videos of their set at the Whisky.
Just a couple days ago we told you about how we were able to catch Shattered Sun perform at the Whisky A GoGo, opening for legendary rockers, Skid Row. You can read more about that night here. It was an awesome show! This band is never short on energy. They came out delivering a fresh new style of heavy thrash metal with emotionally driven lyrics that captivate the listener and immediately draw them into the Shattered Sun family. What is awesome to see is a full band complete with two guitarists and keys. It really does complete the sound and takes their music to greater depths and adds many layers to enjoy.
We were able to talk with the band prior to their set and are pleased to bring that interview to you here:
Shattered Sun was the first band to be signed to Breaking Bands Management which is the directed and founded by the powerhouse team of Adrenaline PR CEO Maria Ferrero, former MegaForce Records and Crazed Management owners Jon and Marsha Zazula, and Testament vocalist and co-manager Chuck Billy. Chuck made it out to the show at the Whisky and was in attendance as the crowd went wild for their heavy riffs, gripping vocals and infectious hooks. Marcos is an excellent frontman as he engaged the audience and raised their energy to new levels.
Shattered Sun is
Marcos Leal – Vocals
Daniel Trejo – Guitar
Jessie Santos – Guitar
Joseph Guajardo – Bass
Robert Garza – Drums
Henry Garza – Keys/Samples
Shattered Sun is set to perform at the River City Rock Fest on May 24th in San Antonio. If you can go, make sure to not miss them. Their sets are fueled with energy and are not to be missed! Check out the slide show by Rockin Ryan from their set at the Whisky or on his Facebook album here :
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Their album, Hope Within Hatred is due out later this year and is produced by Robert Beltran of Precision Studio, LLC in Corpus Christi, TX. In addition to production from Robert, SHATTERED SUN also credits Spineshank guitarist Mike Sarkisyan with assisting with pre-production duties and general consultation. The band greatly appreciates the work put in by both Mike Sarkisyan and Robert Beltran. “We’ve been working with Rob Beltran for a while now and he’s definitely become more than just our producer. To us, he’s family and at times feels like a seventh member of the band. In addition, we’ve learned a lot from Mike Sarkisyan through our early touring days and keep in contact with him still to this day,”adds Marcos.
Make sure to catch Shattered Sun at their upcoming shows and make sure to visit their social media sites to stay up to date on their latest news.
Music Junkie Press 