Concert Review: D.R.U.G.S.

Strength In Numbers (S.I.N.) Tour
Bogarts Theater – Cincinnati, OH
2/24/2012

For someone who spends as much time listening to and reading about music as I do, it doesn’t often happen that I discover a band through someone else and end up really liking them. However, I have to give credit where credit is due. Last year my brother-in-law Joe mentioned a band to me called D.R.U.G.S. and said that they were great and I should check them out. He was spot on. I quickly learned that D.R.U.G.S. was the new project of ex-Chiodos singer Craig Owens, and he was back with a bang, supported by a solid group of musicians and boasting a really good self titled first album.

Since last year, I had been looking for an opportunity to see D.R.U.G.S. live, and this show, at good-old Bogarts near the University of Cincinnati, was a no brainer. A strong opening couple of sets from Hit the Lights and Like Moths to Flames, opened the door for Owens to deliver, and by all means, deliver he did. I’m a sucker for incredible lead vocalists, and Owens was good enough to make this show one of the best I’ve seen in a while.

Random Thoughts: Epics

I’m often told that I’m far too quick to change the song while I’m in the car with other people. Often times, its only one chorus and a verse into a song before I’m reaching for the seek button to head off to the next one. This is ESPECIALLY true when a song is longer than it should be – if it’s longer than 4 minutes, it better be good or it doesn’t have a chance.

HOWEVER, occasionally, I come across one of these long songs that just really blows me away. These ‘Epics’ (a very technical term that I just made up) turn out to be some of my favorite songs, because in order for them to be great AND really long, they have to have something special or something unique about them that makes them really stand out.

So, I threw together a list of ‘Epics’ that I really like, and while they range from metal masterpieces to borderline broadway songs, they have two things in common: They are all really long songs (most 7-8 minutes), and they are all really unique and worth your time. If I’ve done my job, I hope you are intrigued enough to go check some of these out. I’d love to know what you think! (click on the song title for a link to the song on youtube)

Concert Review: Foxy Shazam

The Church of Rock and Roll CD Release Party
Madison Theater – Covington, KY
1/21/2012

Welcome, my friends, to the Church of Rock and Roll.

Foxy Shazam, a band that’s famous for being highly unpredictable and impossible to classify, has gained extremely passionate fans over the years with their impressive full-band instrumentation and dual-vocalization that includes both screams and prince-esque melodies. After the highly successful 2010 release of their self titled effort that brought them a bit more main-stream, fans were anxiously awaiting what was next in the Foxy Shazam saga. Finally, late in 2011 they announced that their next effort, titled The Church of Rock and Roll, was set to release early in January. This excited Foxy’s huge fan base, including yours truly, and I was waiting with baited breath the weekend before the release.

However, my anticipation for the new album skyrocketed when I found out that they were playing a CD release party near their hometown of Cincinnati that very weekend, a few days before the CD came out. Last minute plans were made and a small group of us headed down to a little theater to watch the show. In true Foxy tradition, I’m so glad we went. It’s time to get Foxy.

Music Pill Update: February 2012

The beginning of the year is an exciting time, as bands begin to release their spring and early summer touring plans. The first 5 weeks of 2012 have been no different, as there are a ton of huge bands gearing up to hit the road in the next few months. Since live music is basically all I think about, I thought I’d share some of tours and festivals that I’m really excited about.

So here it goes! This is what’s going on in music in my world. Enjoy, and let me know whats going in your world of music!