The Power of Music

Wouldn't you fucking love to be the fly the wall of your favorite rock star?  Oh hell!  Wouldn't you love to be the fly on the wall of ANY rock star?!  Imagine the stories we never hear.  Well, I got one rock star to open up a little and let me tell his story.  It's a story of pain and perseverance, of love and hope and of course.... of music.  The rock star is Johnny AK from The AK Band and this is his story....
Johnny AK was a budding musician starting to see success with his band, The AK Band in the 1980's.  The AK band consisted of Johnny AK on guitar, Nev on vocals and bass and Maz on drums.  They were signed with RCA and had played with well knowns such as The Kinks and Joe Cocker.  Their style, a self described Rock/Reggae was categorized as Power Punk....a very popular sound in the 80's.

Then fucking disaster struck....Johnny suffered a horrific accident and was crushed underneath heavy objects, sending him to the hospital near death.  After weeks of being touch and go, with the aid of intense medical therapy Johnny came out of the danger zone and started to slowly recover.  Now I tend to believe we all have those people in our lives that serve as angels when we need them.  God knows I've had mine.  As it turns out, Johnny had one at that critical time too.
A significant other in Johnny's life at that time also happened to be a general and psychiatric nurse...who worked using music therapy to help heal mind and body.  Could you fucking possible think of anything that Johnny might have needed more at this time?  Neither can I.  In any case, Johnny was released from the hospital and into her care.  After several months of intense medical treatment, Johnny's angel started Johnny on musical therapy, slowly bringing him back to what he loved with small sessions.
As his therapy intensified, Johnny used the tools that were available to him...in this case, recording equipment, and started the Fat Bastard Sound Therapy recordings.  As Johnny was quite removed from the music business at this point, family members were recruited to join in the recordings to back him up and to sing.

For 10 years Johnny lived his own fucking personal hell of pain and suffering.  Through the power of love and music, Johnny was able to recover, to take back his life and make music once again.  He calls Portugal home and in the years since 1999, he has played to audiences in Turkey, The Balkins, The Caribbean and others.  Along with the Fat Bastard Sound Therapy recordings there is a demo album of tracks entitled Beyond Devastation as well as the pre-production Tequila Sunset in which Johnny had worked on with The AK Band.  Johnny continues to write songs including one entitled Hope in which he describes as being a sum up of his life.
We can all learn a lesson from Johnny and his devastating experience.  Music lifts us and heals us, hope lives within us and we can rise above anything with a little help from our friends....... ; )

To keep up with Johnny and his music you can subscribe to his youtube channel at www.youtube.com/user/FatBastardSound follow him on twitter at twitter.com/AkBandThe or friend him on facebook at www.facebook.com/The.Ak.Band

Three Streets to the Wind

What goes around comes around…. at least that’s what they say. I think it’s true.  Take Folk music, a genre that had a great following in the 1960’s.  There seems to be a resurrection of folk music as of late -   only this time around it has a rockin' new edge and attitude.   Bands such as Mumford and Sons, The Dropkick Murphys and Of Monsters and Men are gaining popularity and recognition and deservedly so!  They’ve opened our minds to listening to Alternative Folk and as a result I'm very much enjoying the tunes coming from Canada’s own ultimate table pounding, drinking, sing along at the top of your fucking lungs, partying Alternative Folk/Rock band, Streets of Hastings.

Canada has very strong Celtic roots and let’s face it… we know how to fucking party!  After all, we learned from the best… the Newfies!  They’ve been pounding back beers as hard as they pound on their tables at kitchen parties for ages, listening to Celtic Folk music.  Streets of Hastings have definitely got that party vibe down.  They're a self described drinking band with a rock n roll problem.  Not to mention they do have their own token Newfoundlander.

Streets of Hastings is made up of Phil Alexander on lead vocals and guitar, originally from North Bay Ontario;  Jason Bedard (Trucker),  a Rockland Ontario original on bass guitar and vocals; and Larry Peyton (Peyts), keeper of the beat on drums  and vocals.  Yes…you guess it, Peyts is originally from St. John’s Newfoundland.  Their current home is Rockland Ontario and I’m thinking there’s gotta be party wherever they go!  Let’s all move to Rockland!

These guys are fucking funny!  I love their sense of humor and their love of life and fun shows through in their music, especially in their songs such as 1812 (Proud Canadians), Sea Bag and Kelly Ann.   But that doesn’t mean they can’t be serious and sensitive.  Songs like Comfort No More, Don’t Go Away, and 31(I Ain’t Gonna Make It) show the deeper side of these guys.  Now I've said that they have a that table pounding Celtic sound and that’s true…just listen to Kelly Ann,  Drinkin Like it’s Free and Slainte, but keep listening to Three Streets to the Wind and you’ll discover many music styles including a retro punk sound – Rupture and Faceless being  perfect examples.  And well, they just fucking rock when they cover House of The Rising Sun!

Go ahead, preview their music below....

Not only do I like the music of Streets of Hastings, I like the men that make up this band.  I highly recommend you visit their website at www.streetsofhastings.com and while you're there definitely check out their personal and band bios!  I guarantee you'll laugh your ass off!  Then, while you're in a really good mood, support this rockin band and buy some of their tunes............. ; )

A Couple of My Favorite Things....

Hey everyone... I've been so fucking busy lately but I've come up with a new time management plan and I should be posting regularly again!  It requires getting up at 4:30 am, but at least this way I'll have time to write.  Good thing I'm a morning person!  Anyway, I've been itching to talk about two of my very favorite Indie music artists.  I've written blogs/reviews for both these groups in the past but this summer and fall I was fucking lucky enough to see them both perform live!

I'll start with C-Leb and The Kettle Black because I caught them live first in August at the Summer Meltdown festival in Darrington Washington.  Yeah...that's how much I love these guys - took the ferry over to the mainland, crossed the border, drove 3 hours there and back in one day to catch these rockers blow up the fucking stage!  And of course they didn't disappoint!

Let me refresh your memory, C-Leb and The Kettle Black are an urban blues band from Seattle Washington.  The first time I heard one of their songs, I fucking couldn't run fast enough to buy their album.  Between C-Leb and Jesse's writing talents, C-Leb's strong vocals, Jesse's slide guitar, Sandy's bass lines and Jazz keeping the beat on his skins, these guys have got it fucking goin on!!  Not to mention they are all fucking sexy as hell!  

The boys weren't headlining the festival and being Indie artists they are still making a name for themselves.  I watched them start out performing to a fairly small crowd, but as their set progressed I wasn't surprised to turn and see the crowd had substantially grown and were calling out for more!  And more is what C-Leb and the Kettle Black gave to us!  They surprised us by performing a new song for their encore - Flat Black will be on their next album....(rumor has it, they're working on it now!  I can't fucking wait!!)  Holy fucking shit!  I thought I couldn't love these boys more but this song blew me the fuck away!  Needless to say, I was very happy I made the trip!

The boys were great too!  Though they were busy with putting away their equipment, and they had their families there, they were still kind enough to take a few minutes to talk to me... and oh yeah, I got hugs too - score!  Every one of their songs is a favorite of mine, so it's hard to pick and choose one to share... I'm gonna share Guilty with you, but be sure to head over to their website at c-lebsounds.com to check out more!  You won't be fucking disappointed!

The second band that I had the opportunity to check out was Cupla!  I couldn't wait to ferry over to catch their show in September in Vancouver at the Princeton Pub.  And again, I was not disappointed!  Like C-Leb and The Kettle Black, I've been a fan of Cupla from the first time I heard them.  Everybody who knows me, knows I love all music but my heart lives in hard rock and blues.  Another thing that attracts me is originality... well, Cupla has originality all wrapped up with a fucking bow and their blues riffs drive me wild!

I was curious to see how Cupla would sound live.... Tricia McAloney has that sultry low voice and I wondered if the music would overpower her in a live show.  Turns out that I had nothing to be fucking concerned about.  They sounded even better live than on their CD (which I love, by the way).  And this was in a small pub with not so great acoustics.  What I wouldn't fucking give to hear them perform in a Theater Arts center, such as the Esplanade in Medicine Hat.  I bet they would blow that fucking place up!

Not only do I love Cupla's music... I love Cupla.  Bobby and Billy McAloney could possibly be two of my favorite people alive.  These are a couple of the sweetest guys I've ever met and considering the life these two young men have lived so far, it is surprising.  Just another argument for how expressing yourself through music is healing and therapeutic.  Tricia is beautiful and cool, Brando is a sweetheart and Andrew is sexy time!

Another thing to love about Cupla is how they are willing to stand up to bullies!  My Stand, the song they wrote and performed to shine a light an age old problem that has been tormenting our children for as long as I can remember is touching, beautiful and relevant.  It means more to me than they can possibly know.  I moved around a lot as a kid and almost every year I was the new kid.  The new kid gets bullied a lot, believe me!  If you haven't heard it, please check it out now...

To get more information and links to all their music, please visit Cupla at www.supernova.com/cupla1.  Not only are they my heroes, they are a hell of a lot of fun to do Tequila shots with too!  I can't wait for the next time.........; )

Good Reading....

Hey everyone!! I know I haven't posted a lot lately.  I started a new job!  I started dating again!  And I came down with a cold that has been fucking kicking my ass!  But don't feel sorry for me...one of the things I love to do in my down time is read.  I've read the first two books of the Shades of Grey series.  It hasn't impressed me that much but then again I'm not really one for romance novels.  I was expecting hot and dirty and I got Cinderella....oh well.  That's all I'll say on that matter as I know there are many fans of the books and I really don't want to offend anyone.
The book I'm reading right now though is fucking incredible!  I picked it up in a funky little bookstore in Seattle, Left Bank Books at the Pike Place Market. The book is Sex at Dawn - How we Mate, Why we Stray, and What it Means for Modern Relationships.  It's written by Christopher Ryan, PhD and Cacilda Jetha, MD so you can imagine it's not a novel.  I came across a passage yesterday when I was reading that I think many of you will REALLY fucking enjoy, so I just have to share!
The following is excerpted from Sex at Dawn:

Lots of upright, proper Americans were scandalized by the way Elvis moved his hips when he sang "rock and roll."  But how many realized what the phrase rock and roll meant?  Cultural historian Michael Ventura, investigating the roots of African-American music, found that rock 'n' roll was a term that originated in the juke joints of the South.  Long in use by the time Elvis appeared, Ventura explains the phrase "hadn't meant the name of a music, it meant 'to fuck.'  'Rock' by itself, had pretty much meant that, in those circles, since the twenties at least."  By the mid-1950's, when the phrase was becoming widely used in mainstream culture, Ventura says the disc jockeys "either didn't know what they were saying or were too sly to admit what they knew." 

Though crusty old Ed Sullivan would have been scandalized to realize what he was saying when he announced this new "rock and roll all the kids are crazy about," examples of barely concealed sexual reference lurking just below the surface of common American English don't stop there.  Robert Farris Thompson, America's most prominent historian of African art, says that funky is derived from the Ki-Kongo lu-fuki, meaning "positive sweat" of the sort you get from dancing or having sex, but not working.  One's mojo, which has to be "working" to attract a lover is Ki-Kongo for "soul." Boogie comes from mbugi, meaning "devilishishly good."  And both jazz and jism, likely derive from dinza the Ki-Kongo word for "to ejaculate."

Hahahaha! Isn't that fucking great?  Can you understand why I fucking LOVE this book?  This excerpt gives a whole new meaning to sex, drugs and rock n roll..... sex, drugs and more fucking sex!  No wonder I'm so turned on by the music I listen to!  So in closing, I hope you all go out (or stay in) this weekend and fucking "rock and roll"......... ; )

Seattle Rocks and so does Legion Within

I recently travelled to Seattle, just because I could.  I fell in love with this artsy and creative city immediately. I did fall out of love with my GPS while I was there, but once I figured out where I was going it was all good.  I met a friend there and we took in some shopping on Pike Street, just a bit further uptown than the Pike Place Market (though I had to check that out too).  There were tons of funky little boutiques and when we saw Edge of the Circle Books, this crazy little occult bookstore, we had to check it out.

Edge of the Circle books also provides tarot card readings.  My friend, who is a musician decided to get a reading done.  The reading uncovered the core of what was blocking his success in his music.  It opened his eyes to new possibilities and what he needed to do to move forward.  His tarot card reader, Raven as it turned out is a musician as well.  She is the bass player for Seattle Goth band Legion Within.

Don't you just fucking love it when you don't expect to find new music and you do?  I sure as hell do.  I of course picked up one of their CDs and was blown away by how talented this group is.  Being new to Gothic music, I don't have much of a base to compare to, but I fucking know what I like and I do like Legion Within.

Their 2009 album Mouth of Madness features haunting vocals and is accentuated by a darkwave industrial rock sound.  What is it about fucking Seattle that inspires so much originality?  Music is constantly being re-invented there and I fucking love it!! Legion Within is no exception.  Oh hell, check em out for yourself...here's the title track from the album I bought, Mouth of Madness...

So now you see what I mean.  This band appeals to more than just goth fans, though I'm sure that's where their biggest fan base is.  You can check out more Legion Within at the links below and I've added the link for Edge of the Circle books too.  I have a couple of witch friends who would LOVE it!!

Legion Within on Reverbnation
Legion Within on myspace
Legion Within on facebook
Buy Mouth of Madness on cdbaby

Edge of The Circle Books - Seattle's resource for Paganism and the Occult

To Be or Not To Be

Hey everyone!  I've heard some more great music this week and I can't wait to tell you about Legion Within!  I met the bass player, Raven in this funky occult bookshop and picked up their album!  It's pretty fucking awesome stuff.  But first I have to share something else I learned in Seattle....

I met someone there who's music I enjoy very much.  I knew he had read my blogs in the past so I asked his opinion.  I love getting feedback on the blogs....it's my own art and I guess I like to know who I appeal to, how I can make improvements, etc.   Anyway, in talking about Cat's Litter Box, he felt it was redundant.  Hmmmmm, that's unusual feedback.... in what way is the Litter Box redundant?  He said it was too positive... if I only had good things to say why would anyone want or trust my opinion.

Well, I don't know if you can imagine, but that got my back up a little bit.... okay scratch that, it fucking got my back up a lot.  This forum is for me to share the music I enjoy and in doing so, to support the artists I enjoy.  I feel there is enough fucking negativity in this world and I don't want to be a part of adding to it.  Sure, there is music in this world (not a lot) that I would rather not listen to.  You won't hear about that music or the artists from me.

I love music.  It been with me through my happiest moments and my worst ones.  When I felt I was all alone, I would hear a song that spoke to the very feelings I was having and I knew someone out there understood me.  Whether I like something or not, there is someone out there that appreciates and relates to it.  So I sure as hell am not going to bash it.

So, I just want to express one thing.  To those of you who don't like this blog because it's too positive...here's some negativity for you.... Fuck off and go read something else.  I'll be back soon to talk about Legion Within and it will be positive because I like the way they fucking play.......... ; )

Wishes Do Come True

Ever since the brutal disappointment of not seeing a shirtless Sully Erna last fall at the Godsmack concert in Calgary, I have been wishing on the early star every night for a shirtless rocker.  That may sound a little sexist slutty of me, but fuck it, I don't care.....we all need a little flesh.
I've been to many rock shows since Godsmack last fall, and have had a great time at every fucking one of them.  And my wish has come true twice!  I didn't have to wait long for the first time... October 27,  Taylor Hawkins, the Foo Fighters gorgeous sexy drummer, stripped off his to expose rippling strong biceps and smooth pects at the Scotia Saddledome in Calgary AB... omg that was good!!
But as good as that was, a shirtless Taylor Hawkins on the Big Screen in Calgary cannot compare to the spectacle I beheld in the intimate setting of the Medicine Hat Esplanade and Heritage Arts Centre on July 19th!  First let me tell you about the Esplanade in Medicine Hat... it is an intimate theatre that doesn't quite hold 800 spectators (that's right 800 is not a typo).  The acoustics are beyond great and the small intimate venue is starting to attract some very big names... as a matter of fact, Chris Cornell recorded at least one (maybe two) of his songs from his live Songbook album at the Esplanade.  Big names such as City and Colour (I was at that show... see my blog post Dallas is Worth the Green for more), Alice Cooper and Snoop Dogg, but never in a million years would I have guessed that Slash would play such a small venue!  Well, he did!  And even though the tickets to his show sold out in a couple of minutes (if that) I was one of the lucky ones to score a pair!  Fuckin A doesn't even begin to describe how I felt about that accomplishment!!
For those of you who are not familiar with Slash... first, where the fuck have you been? ...he is the guitar fucking god formerly of Guns N Roses and Velvet Revolver as well as having a very successful solo career performing with many artists including Myles Kennedy of  Alter Bridge.  It was with Myles Kennedy and a very hot band - The Conspirators - that he played with at the Esplanade.  I was in the balcony and to put it into perspective for you, it was comparable to 5th row floor seats at any other venue!  It was fucking unreal... even though I couldn't reach out and touch them, I almost felt as if I could, they were that close!
The show opened up with Canadian rockers, Monster Truck and they blew us away with their hard rock/alternative style.  These guys are making quite a name for themselves here in Canada and I have no doubt they will be driving their sound into the hearts of fans around the globe before too long... here take a listen!

After a short intermission Slash, Myles Kennedy and The Conspirators took the stage... talk about hot fucking rockers!! I was practically panting!  Hell, who am I kidding, I wasn't practically panting... I was literally panting!  I have mentioned music and musicians turn me on, right?  But don't take my word for it... check it out for yourself!

It was an incredible show!  Myles is as an amazing singer as Slash is on guitar.  When they performed Velvet Revolver's Slither I couldn't stop myself from headbanging and the crowd went fucking crazy when they performed Guns N Roses songs Sweet Child O Mine and Paradise City.  It was Slash himself though, that made my night when for their encore he came out on stage shirtless!  He was fucking beautiful bare-chested in his jeans and tophat! Sigh... it still gets my panties and mouth wet when I think back on it!  The Esplanade is way to small and intimate for anything like pyrotechnics but the show was ended with cannons bursting and blowing tons of silver and black confetti into the air!  It was the most fucking awesome spectacle I had ever seen.  And THAT, boys and girls, is what rock n roll is fucking all about...............; )