BaghdadBad Boy

I was sitting at the kitchen table having my morning coffee and listening to some new tunes.  My sister-in-law walked into the room and looking at me in confusion said, "This isn't the kind of music you normally listen to...."  I just chuckled and said, "I know, right? But I really like this!"  It's true, I'm a hard rocker at heart but that doesn't mean I'll close my mind to all else.  To be fair I have listened to and enjoyed dance mixes in the past....if I have to listen to Gangnam Style one more time, I'll fucking kill myself - that's not my thing - but I fucking love me a bad boy!

Jemile Aka BaghdadBad Boy does not spin out your regular run of the mill dance mix.  He adds an element of funk that turns me on, lights a fire in me and makes me move to the groove.

Smooth vocals emphasized by sythns and effects that are sexy as hell.  He is welcome to rock my body right any time! It's Time To Get Loose...

The United Kingdom is lucky to have this musician to call their own but I'm sayin it's about fucking time to share with the rest of the world.  Jemile, come here baby........ ; )

KISS and SHINEDOWN

I left work early Friday, stating to my co-workers that I was going to Rock and Roll all night and party everyday....and that's exactly what I did!  Friday, June 5th I had the honor of catching Kiss and Shinedown live in Victoria, British Columbia.  What a fucking awesome show!

Shinedown opened the show and I'll admit, it was them that I really wanted to see.  I've been fucking in love with Shinedown music for years and I was definitely excited to see them perform live!  They didn't disappoint! Their live show is every bit as entertaining and kick ass as any one of their recorded albums.  I was up on my feet immediately, dancing and singing along!  Luckily for the people around me  they played loud and managed to drown me out.  Starting the show with Diamond Eyes, I already had my fist in the air.  I nearly jumped out of my own fucking skin when they played The Sound of Madness!

Kiss was every bit as good!  Their fans, painted faces, ranged in age from the very young to the very ....um mature!  Kiss is on tour promoting their new album Monster, so we were given a taste of their new stuff.  They've stayed true to their sound and style.  Die hard Kiss fans are going to love it and for sure they'll pull in more fans with these new songs.  The Save On Foods Memorial Centre became a living breathing animal as everyone was on their feet, screaming for more!  Paul Stanley said it best when he said, "If you want to sit down, stay home and watch TV!"  I fucking loved it! My sentiments exactly Paul!  Here's a taste of their new music, a bonus track from the album Monster....

They still have a ton of dates in Canada, so if you get a chance to see them live, don't fucking miss it.  Shinedown is incredible and Kiss proved beyond a doubt that they still have the power to get your rocks off when they rock on......... ; )

No Operator can Trace the Sky and Carry the Storm

CARRY THE STORM

Wow...what a time for music!  I've had my fill of fucking great music this last little while.  We have greats like Black Sabbath and Eric Clapton releasing new stuff, I've been hearing some great Indie stuff online like Screaming Eagles and Jemile Aka BaghdadBad Boy (two very different styles but man I got to tell you about these guys in more detail!) and then if that isn't fucking enough I caught some great island local live music on June 7!

And it's that show I'm going to tell you about first!  I've traveled off the island to the big city of Vancouver to see shows in the past...and there is no fucking doubt, Vancouver rocks!! But I found out first hand this weekend that Vancouver Island and more specifically Nanaimo fucking rocks too!

On our way to the show our designated driver was telling us about his new favorite band.  It was a band he had caught live the weekend before and as luck would have it, he had the CD!  The Body Politic is a hot new Progressive Metal band out of Nanaimo, BC and they are building quite the fan base.  Any fan of Tool would definitely get off on the vibe that The Body Politic is laying down and vice-versa.   As a matter of fact I asked our designated driver (my friends kid, just turned 19) if he heard the similarities in sound between Tool and The Body Politic.  He asked me who Tool was...... fucking kids!

The show we were on our way to see was at a small club called the Cambie in Nanaimo.  A cool little dive with limited seating and a small stage.  Taking the stage that night were three bands.  These bands, though diverse, all have something in common....members of each group have played with who I was going to see.... Blake Deal.  I was excited to finally hear Blake perform.

Blake Deal - Carry the Storm

Blake's band, Carry the Storm, opened the show with face-melting Deathcore Metal - what my sister-in-law refers to affectionately as kill your mother music.  Blake's demonic vocals led Riley Anderson and Steven Bekker on guitars.  Their fingers flew over their guitar strings, the friction surprisingly not setting their guitars on fire, but definitely alighting something in the souls of the audience! I had five words for Blake after their set.... GET INTO THE FUCKING STUDIO!  He tells me in a couple of months....and when they have something recorded you can bet your ass that I'll be sharing it with all of you!  In the meantime you can find more info and photos by visiting and liking their facebook page at facebook.com/Carry-The-Storm!!!

Trace the Sky hit the stage next and let me tell you, these boys know how to rock.  Their alternative style has a pop punk edge much like what made the Offspring and Green Day so popular.  Liam Glaim has come out from behind the drums (used to play drums in a band he shared with Blake) to come out front with the two Matts (Harder and Gladman) to play guitar and sing.  They definitely had the crowd jumpin!  Here's just a sample of what we heard......

Check out Trace the Sky on facebook to listen to more - facebook.com/tracetheskymusic

Headlining the show was another fucking awesome band from Nanaimo!  No Operator has a hard rock sound that definitely appealed to this hard rocker!  And wouldn't you know it....Oliver Galloway (Ollie) - guitar and vocals - used to play in a band with Blake as well!  Either Blake really gets around or Nanaimo is a small town.... well maybe a little of both, hahaha!  Anyway... these guys are really making waves on our island.  Take a listen to the lighter side of No Operator and you'll understand why!

Visit No Operator on facebook to learn more about this up and coming band - facebook.com/nooperator

Needless to say, I had an fucking great time!  What more could a girl want than hot bands on a hot summer night........ ; )

Turn to Page 9

I've said it before....Texas fucking rocks!  You all know I fell in love with hard Texan rockers such as Born & Raised and Awake in Theory and now on the lighter side I am lovin the punk pop sound coming out of Dallas.  If you like the stylings of Sum 41 or Blink 182 (like me) then I have a new number to introduce to you!

Page 9 is just another prime example of how diverse the Texas music scene is.  Based out of Dallas this band is made up of 4 self-described nerds - Josh, Linden, Kelsey and Nate.  You know what I like best about nerds?  They're smart.  For these four, making music is their business and their damn good at their business.  Their sound has a radio friendly quality that has the potential to be picked up by modern rock and rock radio stations on an international level.  When they hit the charts they won't be stopped!

Touring Texas, playing bars and music festivals is just a part of what they're busy doing to get there.  They are also currently in the process of releasing their new EP, The Serenity Chronicles.  Page 9 has grown as a band musically and personally during the making of this album - individually, they've gone through some tough shit - leading each of them to search for their own calm or "serenity".  They wanted to give fans - old and new - the opportunity to experience and grow with it as well, so they're releasing it in stages... or in "chronicles" so to speak, bonding the relationship they have with their fans that much more.  Like I said....smart.  Give them a listen...and when the time comes that they do hit the charts, remember I told you so...... ; )

To hear and learn more about Page 9 check out their site at http://page9.tumblr.com/TSC

I Got Friends in Low Places

"I got friends in low places, where the whiskey drowns and the beer chases my blues away"....and those places happen to be in the Coombs/Errington area of Vancouver Island.  This past weekend I had a fucking blast with those friends - a good blast unlike the shit that happened in Boston and West last week that devastated families and communities.  My blast consisted of communities and families coming together under the celebration and appreciation of music.
I spent Friday night at the Frontiersman Pub and Grill with my brother and friends listening to rockers Wes Weldon and Colin Perry of Double Trouble.  These guys fucking cover everything!  I heard everything from Turn the Page, Wicked Game, Kansas City (thanks again Wes!) and of course I Got Friends in Low Places.  Wes is a guitar god and Colin can fucking play anything, including horns, flute, keyboards...you name it, he can pick it up and play - and holy fuck, what a voice!
If that wasn't enough, they were later joined by local musician Dave Marco who definitely knows his way around a tune as well.  I've only heard him play a couple of times and already I'm a huge fan.  These guys are so versatile that they don't come with a set play-list.  They read the audience and then play what the audience wants to hear.  Sometimes it's Classic Rock, sometimes it Blues or Country and sometimes it's all of the above - on this night it was all of the above!  Yell out a song you want to hear and these guys will fucking play it on the spot!
Saturday night I went to a dance at the Errington hall.  This was put on as a fund-raiser for the Air Cadets and wouldn't you fucking know it, Wes and Colin were back.  Only this time they brought the whole fucking band - The Enablers!  Although I've enjoyed Double Trouble a number of times around the island this was my first taste of The Enablers.  And again I was fucking blown away by their talent and versatility!  These are seasoned musicians who have played with a number of bands over the past 30 years and let me tell you, their experience fucking shows!  Wes is such a good electric guitar player that during one of his solo's (which by the way, happened to be a Rolling Stones cover) if I had closed my eyes I would have fucking sworn Clapton was on the stage. Their drummer Phil Hagen, who also sings, had me cracking up with his sense of humor and off the cuff lyrics.  Guest singers hit the stage too! Chrissy (hope I spelled that right, hun) can knock the queen of soul on her ass and Johnny Rockstar (gotta learn your real name darlin) has a voice and a look that can leave girls trembling in front of him!
Again, these guys, like Double Trouble play fucking everything.  As it happened, Saturday was April 20th, otherwise known as 420, so they even did a tribute to Hip Hop and Reggae.  It was fucking awesome!  Roll up baby!  At 11:30 pm I was outside whining about how this was my first 420 in over 20 years that I hadn't had a hoot.  Let's just say that I didn't have to break my streak.  Fuck I love rock bands.......... ; ) 

These guys are for hire!  And they come highly recommended by me!! Planning a party, wedding, BBQ on Vancouver Island that you would love to have live music at?  Contact Wes through his website for Double Trouble here > http://doubletroubleduo.jigsy.com/  I'm sure if you're interested in having the whole band - The Enablers, you can talk to Wes about that too!

Rockin Out at Joe's Apartment

April 13, Joe's Apartment in Vancouver was fucking rocking out and I was there!  I have to say I got my moneys worth and more!  Four bands were performing that evening and everyone of them fucking rocked.

The night started with Latenite Automatic.  This Vancouver based band blew me and everyone else in the joint away right from the start.  The lead singer was already reminding me a little of Jim Morrison of The Doors with his voice and stage style but when he started sneaking shots onstage....well, need I say more?  I had the opportunity to talk to a couple of the guys later and discovered they're a revolving/evolving band, jamming with different musicians at different times....great way to keep your sound fresh.  I managed to score one of their CD's and it has already been added to my library of favorites.  Here, check em out, and try and tell me that Jimmy isn't fucking re-incarnated!

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Also taking the stage that night were Vancouver's own, The Grand!  Let me tell you, these guys can fucking rock!  Hell, don't take my word for it - watch this live performance of Rebel Son, get a taste of what I got and try to fucking argue with me....

Headlining the night were yet another Vancouver uber talent, Static in the Stars!  These rockers are getting a lot of attention locally and deservedly so.  They've been raising their voices all over the radio waves and that night they fucking had everyone raising their voices AND their hands.  Get up rockers and fucking Raise Your Voice!

But the band I went through the expense and travel for were my boys, October Sky.  They traveled a little further than I did to play Vancouver.  From Montreal Quebec, they've been touring Canada the last couple of weeks, and when I discovered they were going to be this close to me....well, fuck, I couldn't let the opportunity to see them perform live pass me by.

I fucking love these guys!  Their music is original and new.  They've managed to recreate sound in a way that's haunting and addictive.  The only disappointment I had was their set was too short, but of course that wasn't their fault.  I could've rocked out to October Sky the whole night. Here, check out their video for Green and Beautiful from their second album, The Aphotic Season, a great political song reminding us of what we have to lose.....

Their stage presence live is incredible, high energy and great sound! Not to mention they're sexy as hell!  Oh that's right girls....and Karl Raymond, that smokin hot front man is single!!   I was so fucking happy to hear one of my favorite October Sky tunes, Prisoner of Nothing played live.  Being a free spirit and all, I could really relate to this song. Not anymore, because now I'm a fucking prisoner to October Sky.  Next time, boys, I'll bring my handcuffs and really show you what a good little prisoner I can be.  On second thought, you might have to keep me locked up a little longer due to bad behaviour..........; )

Catch these links.....
Latenite Automatic
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Become a fan on reverbnation
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The Grand
Like em on facebook
Follow em on twitter
Check out their website

Static in the Stars
Like em on facebook
Follow em on twitter
Preview their tunes on soundcloud
Check their site with even more links

October Sky
Like em on facebook
Follow em on twitter
Subscribe to them on youtube
Catch everything October Sky on their site - music, videos, info!

Jagsters Jam

The times that have always gotten me into the most fucking trouble are the parties that spontaneously break out.  I had one of those moments this past weekend.
I stopped in for a quick beer with a friend at the Frontiersman Bar and Grill in Coombs, BC.  And wouldn't you know it?  We found a party.  Local musicians had come together for an afternoon jam and to help raise money for a local man diagnosed with brain cancer.  The place was fucking packed!
The fact that there was standing room only didn't bother me in the least.  We were rocked out honky-tonk style by local country, blues and rock artists! Now you may ask....where's the trouble in that?
Well, you see, I was supposed to be cooking supper for 6...instead I was swilling beer and rocking out!  To my credit, I did refuse the many trays of shooters that passed my way, though I may have had 2 too many beers.  Here's a little taste of how Coombs rocks out!

Shawn Carle

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The Boney Finger Band