Reflecting On 2009

2009 really shaped up to be a pretty musical year.  I saw more shows in 2009 than I have in past 2-3 years and I got turned on to a lot of new music, well new for me.  New music emerged in the tail end of the year from Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions and Alice In Chains and saw them putting out some of the best music of their careers.  I discovered some amazing music that was new to me but necessarily new such as Cat Power’s “The Greatest” and California heavy metal band In This Moment’s brilliant 2008 release “The Dream.”  On the live front, Drive By Truckers melted my face off in Asheville, Hope Sandoval & The Warm Inventions floated me away in Atlanta and KISS showed a nearly sold out BiLo Center that their best days aren’t behind them but ahead of them.

2009 will also forever be known as the year that Phish fans were shut out left and right from their 2009 reunion tour.  Despite all the harsh feedback from fans regarding the 1-3 second sellouts of these shows, the band and company seemed to care little about it and seemed pretty content to just be selling out shows regardless of how the tickets were purchased.  Phish also managed to disappoint me with lackluster shows that were played like four guys walking on eggshells.  They did manage to have about 3 shows that turned my head but nothing that blew me away.  Phish also released an album of new material that was full of great songs (if not some of their best) that were played with 1/2 of the energy which was reminiscent of The Black Crowes “Lions” album.  Unlike KISS, I’d have to say that Phish’s best years are behind them so I’ll be just fine enjoying the ‘94-’96 shows in my archive.

The internet is without a doubt the greatest thing to ever happen for music dorks and bootleg fans all over the world.  2009 was the year that I discovered an array of Bootleg blogs.  What was as one time nearly impossible or affordable was now made free and convenient.  What was once a $50.00 bootleg back in 1985 on a crappy, scratchy vinyl record was now in clear and high quality digital formats such as MP3, SHN and FLAC for free!  I went absolutely bat shit over these and found myself with high quality bootlegs by Dio, Iron Maiden, Black Sabbath and KISS just to name a few.  I have downloaded so many live shows that I am going to have to listen to them one at a time just to assure that I get to listen to them all.

2009 was a great year for The Great Southern Brainfart and I’d love to thank each and every one of you who came to read the blog.  The blog experienced it’s best year to date and I had a really great time keeping up with it.  I got some great feedback from my followers and I got some really great hate mail as well.  Whether you liked what I had to say or not, I really dug the comments and feedback.  I hope that you all will keep coming back and sharing your thoughts, opinions and feedback.

2010 is already shaping up to be a great year with even more interviews, editorials and reviews than before.  The “Live Stuff” portion of the Brainfart will be updated twice a month and I already have some great shows lined up for download so keep your eyes and ears opened!

Last but not least, for those that don’t know, one of the best ways to keep up with The Brainfart and it’s updates is by following us on Twitter and by using Google Reader.  If you already have a Gmail account, just head over to http://reader.google.com and start setting it up.  Keep up with all your favorite blogs (including The Brainfart).  It’s a great tool and something that I couldn’t live without!

Thanks again ya’ll and I hope you all have safe and Happy New Year!  See ya’ll in 2010!
Don
The Great Southern Brainfart

The Brainfart’s 2009 In Concert Re-Cap

2009 was a great year for live music.  I was lucky enough to catch some really amazing shows and here I am with a re-cap of my year in concert!

Armored Uprise/Praetorius
01/09/2009
Local 506 (Chapel Hill, NC)

It was so nice to see a real local metal show. Local metal scenes seem to be a dying breed but on this night it was proven that metal on the local level is not only alive and well but is thriving, full of life and every bit as professional as those that are out now. Armored Uprise took the stage sounding more like a mix of the intense metal sounds of Slayer, Pantera and early Metallica as they delivered such intense songs as “Killdozer” and a face melting cover of the Metallica classic “Damage, Inc.” They were fast and heavy and definitely had the crowd worked up. Praetorius too the stage sounding more like Helloween/Maiden-esque type of metal. They were a great band with really great stage presence and had a more melodic approach to their songs. Their song “The March of Praetorius” was an epic like tune that was almost, ALMOST, Maiden worthy and they also delivered really great covers of Metallica’s “Creeping Death” and the Ozzy classic “Bark at the Moon.” This was a great metal show and for 5 bucks you just can’t get enough shows of this caliber. Keep your eyes open for Praetorius and for Armored Uprise guitarist Greg Klaiber’s new band Zardoz. They are currently out and kicking ass around NC so be sure to check them out if you dig some kick ass, face melting prog metal. Check them out at http://www.myspace.com/zardoznc.

The Brainfart’s Top 20 Albums of the 00’s

The Great Southern Brainfart’s Favorite Album of the 00’s

Before I list my Top 20 Albums of the decade, I’m going to go ahead and get this out of the way. My top pic for Album of the Decade was surprisingly easy so before we get into the other 20, here is my top pick of the 00’s!

Drive By Truckers – Brighter Than Creation’s Dark
Original Release Date: January 22, 2008
Highlights: Checkout Time In Vegas, 3 Dimes Down, Bob, The Man I Shot

Trying to narrow down a favorite album of this past decade is much like trying to pick a favorite child but even when you have multiple children and love them all unconditionally, one always stands out a bit more than the others. I had a friend ask me what my favorite album was and I knew that the first one I named would be it. That album was Brighter Than Creation’s Dark by Drive-By Truckers. I couldn’t think of any other album that came out this past decade that grabbed me like this album did. Hearing it was like going home to a place where emotions run deep in the good, the bad and all that lies between. This album covers all the bases. You get balls out weekend rock songs like 3 Dimes Down and Self Destructive Zones. You get the mellow and gorgeous I’m Sorry Houston and Purgatory Line and you get the gut wrenching story telling of Checkout Time In Vegas. Throw in some political/social commentary with The Man I Shot and You and Your Crystal Meth and you’ve still got room to move. This album is a true rock and roll classic and as corny as it sounds has a little something for everyone. Versatility, strong songwriting, strong delivery and great production make this not just my favorite of the past 10 years but one of my favorites of all time. The band possesses the ability to create characters and stories that are so real that it’s easy to loose yourself in the songs and feel that the characters are actually the ones singing these songs. As a songwriter, this is the kind of album that not only entertains but inspires on so many levels. This album is an instant classic without a doubt.

In This Moment – Making The Connection

A good friend of mine invited me to tag along with him to hang out and watch Los Angeles based metal band In This Moment at the Masquerade here in Atlanta. I was really pumped for this because I had never even heard a lick of music from In This Moment. While I had heard the band name within the Metal realm of bands such as Lacuna Coil and Within Temptation, they were just a band that slipped through the cracks for me. When I was given the opportunity to join my buddy along for this adventure, I happily did so. It had been so long since I literally saw a band and knew little to nothing about them so I was going in completely unbiased at this point. My buddy and I got to go on the tour bus and meet guitarists Chris Howorth and Blake Bunzel before the show and that was a very cool experience to start things off. Upon walking on the bus, they were cranking Ozzy Osbourne’s “The Ultimate Sin” album and they greeted us and welcomed us onto the bus. These guys were probably the nicest guys I’ve met yet and they are total fans of music. Chris and I talked a lot about the importance of great production, old school metal shows we’d been to (which were a lot of the same tours) and just being music dorks so we hit it off right away. This was a nice way to start off the night and it made me really excited to see them perform that night.

Cover Songs: The Ultimate Contagious Disease

Cover songs are like the ultimate contagious disease.  It’s true.  If a cover song is done right, it can boost bands from obscurity and into the limelight.  A cover song is a great way for for fans of certain artists to get turned onto other bands/artists that they may not even know they would like.  There is a dark side to the art of playing a cover song though.  Some bands strive hard to take a song and make it their own and while it’s admirable that they would want to do something different with it, it is very thin ice that is walked upon.  This action can either bring you praise or you can be held responsible for ruining a perfectly good song.

Last night the wife and I were making dinner.  I went and put on a The Rolling Stones’ “Exile On Main Street” album to play in the background as we cooked.  “Loving Cup” came on and she looks to me and says, “Is it sad that the first time I ever heard this song was when it was performed by Phish?”  I told her that I thought that was actually really awesome and that Phish had done their job.  She didn’t quite understand what I was talking about so I elaborated more.  I told her that when a band plays a cover song, it works two ways in my opinion.  One, it’s fun for the band to play a song by an artist that was a huge inspiration and influence to them and two, it’s a great way to turn on your audience to an artist that they may have never given a listen to.  So everybody wins.

Live Stuff: Iron Maiden – May 24th 1981 Tokyo, Japan

Iron Maiden: May 24th 1981 [zip file]

1981 was the year that Iron Maiden was starting to be known as a force to be reckoned with. After endless touring and playing small dives, Maiden found themselves finally selling out their first ever tour of the UK and Japan playing theaters in support of their 2nd album “Killers”. The band even documented this monumental period of their history by releasing an EP called “Maiden Japan”. This was to be their last tour to feature Paul DiAnno on lead vocals. Like many other fans, I bought this EP and found myself wanting to hear the rest of this amazing show. There were rumors all over that there was a full version of this show that existed but it was so expensive to by that my lil early teen self just could never afford the fifty something bucks to buy a cheap cassette copy of it. That’s why ya gotta love the internet.

About 4 years ago a friend of mine who knew I was looking for this found it online for download and I snatched it. What I heard was pure Iron Maiden bliss. The band plays with so much intensity and raw power. They band sounds like a young, hungry band that wants to rule the world and will do anything to do it. DiAnno’s performance also has to be noted here that he was in top notch form and sounded like a seasoned metal singer that was just skimming the top of what he was capable of.

Album Review: Alice In Chains “Black Gives Way To Blue”

Alice In Chains – Black Gives Way To Blue
Release Date: 09/29/2009
Spotlight Tracks: Check My Brain, Your Decision, When The Sun Rose Again, Black Gives Way To Blue

Alice In Chains joined the ranks of bands who did what many hold to be unthinkabe, reforming with a new singer. This was obviously met with mixed emotions but the end result was completely amazing if not mind blowing. Here’s my opinion about this move. I feel that if a band is going to reunite after losing a main and iconic member such as Layne Staley (or like Blind Melon did after the passing of Shannon Hoon), you need to not only be able to stand your ground and be respectful and honor your legacy, you need to be able to be willing to make a new beginning with material that will stand on it’s own. Alice In Chains has done just that with William DuVal and their new album “Black Gives Way To Blue”.

Ronnie James Dio Diagnosed With Stomach Cancer

Wendy Dio, the wife and manager of legendary heavy metal vocalist Ronnie James Dio (DIO, HEAVEN & HELL, BLACK SABBATH, RAINBOW), has released the following statement to BLABBERMOUTH.NET:

“Ronnie has been diagnosed with the early stages of stomach cancer. We are starting treatment immediately at the Mayo Clinic. After he kills this dragon, Ronnie will be back on stage, where he belongs, doing what he loves best, performing for his fans.

“Long live rock and roll, long live Ronnie James Dio.

“Thanks to all the friends and fans from all over the world that have sent well wishes. This has really helped to keep his spirit up.”

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I think I can speak for metal fans all over the world when I say that we send Ronnie and Wendy nothing but positive vibes and best wishes. In his 67 years, Ronnie James Dio has melted faces as the front man Elf, Rainbow, Black Sabbath, DIO and recently for Heaven & Hell. Dio is a true metal god and rock icon who has been one of the most influential artists of all time.

I know he can pull through this. He has been through way worse. Hell, he’s worked with Vivian Campbell so after going through that, he can pull through this. In all seriousness, my positive thoughts and best wishes go out to Ronnie and Wendy. Ronnie, it’s not your time brother. We still need you here!

Thank You…

Thanksgiving day is hands down my favorite holiday.  It’s a non-secular holiday in which you give thanks by stuffing your face with kick ass food.  In all seriousness, giving thanks is something I do every day but I decided to make an entry just to say thanks.  A HUGE thanks go out to all my readers (whether you like me or not) for keeping up with the blog and voicing your opinions (whether I like it or not)!  I truly appreciate your feedback and I hope you will continue to read on and argue on!

A huge thanks to all my friends and family (near and far) for all the love and support that you give to me.  I truly love you all and I hope you all know that no matter how much distance is between us, you are all close to me at all times, on my mind and in my heart.

Thanks to my fellow bloggers who have linked me and that I have linked to help each other spread the word of music whether it be critical, entertaining or all the above.  You all entertain me and bring a huge smile to my face so many thanks for that!

Last but not least, a special thanks to Mr. Miner and all Phish fans for the countless hours of laughs and entertainment.  Keep it coming!

 

Fuck You Phish!

Thanks to my buddy Jaymz, I have been enjoying probably the funniest blog on the planet. The blog is called FUCK YOU PHISH. I haven’t laughed this hard in sometime and it was really funny to read. Phish fans are some of the most inconsistent fans any band can have. You have Phish fans who love the band yet can be critical of them and then you have the fans who little tiny baseball caps have been fitted too tight on their heads and they believe that Phish can do no wrong whatsoever.

The best part about the later mentioned Phish fans is just how upset they get at folks who call out Phish for not being perfect. When the band makes a crappy album or has a crappy show, a fan should be able to call them out for that and not be considered a traitor or any less of a fan for doing so.  Phish fans can really annoy the crap out of me and I’ve pissed my share of fellow Phish fans off.  Hell, just read my blog.

Fuck You Phish proved to me that there is a Phish fan out there with a sense of humor proving that not all Phish fans are a bunch of mindless, pretentious, tight baseball cap wearing jock freaks that lets a band piss in their ears and call everything they do “amazing”.

Hope you enjoy myself!